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WEDNESDAY, MAY 25, 1983
CARE AND PROTECTION OF CHILDREN
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THE GOVERNMENT WILL EXAMINE WHETHER THE PROTECTION OF WOMEN AND JUVENILES ORDINANCE SHOULD BE AMENDED SO AS TO PERMIT JUVENILE COURTS TO MAKE CARE AND PROTECTION ORDERS ON APPLICATION BY A JUSTICE OF THE PEACE, THE ATTORNEY GENERAL, THE HON JOHN GRIFFITHS, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.
IN REPLY TO A QUESTION BY REV THE HON JOYCE BENNETT, MR GRIFFITHS SAID ANY MEASURES THAT COULD BE TAKEN THAT WOULD EXTEND THE PROTECTIVE NETWORK IN THIS CRUCIAL AREA OF SOCIAL CONCERN WOULD BE GIVEN SERIOUS CONSIDERATION.
MR GRIFFITHS SAID THE ORDINANCE DEFINED THE FOLLOWING THREE TYPES OF SITUATION IN WHICH CARE AND PROTECTION ORDERS COULD BE MADE
*
*
WHERE THE CHILD IS PARENTLESS OR HAS AN UNFIT PARENT AND IS FALLING INTO BAD ASSOCIATION OR EXPOSED TO MORAL DANGER OR IS BEYOND CONTROL;
WHERE A SPECIFIED OFFENCE SUCH AS ANY OFFENCE INVOLVING BODILY INJURY TO A CHILD OR INCEST HAS BEEN COMMITTED INVOLVING A CHILD OR WHERE A CHILD IS IN A HOUSEHOLD WHERE A SPECIFIED OFFENCE HAS BEEN COMMITTED, AND
* WHERE A CHILD IS FOUND WANDERING WITHOUT ANY SETTLED
PLACE OF ABODE AND WITHOUT VISIBLE MEANS OF SUBSISTENCE.
UNDER THE ORDINANCE A JUVENILE COURT MAY MAKE CARE AND PROTECTION ORDERS ON ITS OWN MOTION OR UPON THE APPLICATION OF THE DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE OR OF ANY PROBATION OFFICER OR OF ANY PERSON AUTHORISED BY THE DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE IN WRITING OR OF ANY POLICE OFFICER,
+THE EFFECT OF THESE CARE AND PROTECTION ORDERS IS TO REALLOCATE PARENTAL RIGHTS AND DUTIES, EITHER TEMPORARILY OR PERMANENTLY FOR THE PROTECTION OF CHILDREN SUFFERING DEPRIVATION, NEGLECT OR CRUELTY.+
IN ADDITION, HE SAID, IMMEDIATE ACTION COULD BE TAKEN UNDER THE ORDINANCE TO REMOVE A CHILD, KNOWN OR SUSPECTED TO BE THE VICTIM OF ANY FORM OF CHILD ABUSE FROM HIS HOME BY MEANS OF DETENTION OF THE CHILD IN A PLACE OF REFUGE.
+THE PURPOSE OF THIS POWER IS TO PROVIDE A QUICK ACTING EMERGENCY PROVISION TO ENSURE THAT IF A CHILD IS IN ACTUAL DANGER, HE CAN BE IMMEDIATELY TAKEN FROM THAT SITUATION AND PUT IN A PLACE OF SAFETY, MR GRIFFITHS SAID.
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