WEDNESDAY, JULY 1, 1987
33
IMPROVEMENTS TO HANDLING OF CHILD ABUSE CASES SOUGHT
THE PROTECTION OF WOMEN AND JUVENILES I AMENDMENT) BIL.1. 1987 SEEKS TO IMPROVE THE PRESENT
FOR HANDLING CHILD ABUSE HON JOHN CHAMBERS,
PROCEDURES CASES, THE SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE, THE TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
CHAMBERS
SAID
THE
MR MOVING THE SECOND READING OF THE BILL. PROPOSED AMENDMENTS WERE BASED ON RECOMMENDATIONS MADE BY THE WORKING
YEAR TO REVIEW GROUP SET UP LAST
THE PROTECTION OF WOME AND JUVENILES ORDINANCE.
WOMEN
PROTECTION THE "ITS FOCUS HAS SHIFTED OVER THE YEARS FROM
OF AND GIRLS FROM PROSTITUTION AND OTHER FORMS OF SEXUAL EXPLOITATION TO THE PROTECTION OF JUVENILES AND CHILDREN
ABUSE FROM AND NEGLECT," HE SAID.
MR CHAMBERS SAID THE BILL WOULD AMEND FOUR SPECIFIC
IN THE ORDINANCE.
PROVISIONS
UNDER WHICH BEFORE A DECISION
THE FIRST OF THESE WAS CONTAINED IN SECTION 34(1) A CHILD MUST BE BROUGHT BEFORE THE JUVENILE COURT WAS MADE ON WHETHER HE WAS IN NEED OF CARE AND PROTECTION, HE SAID.
USEFUL PURPOSE "THIS REQUIREMENT DOES NOT APPEAR TO SERVE ANY
HIS VIEWS IF THE CHILD IS TOO YOUNG EITHER TO EXPRESS A VIEW OR FOR TO BE TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT BY THE COURT, IT
ALSO BE A
A TRAUMATIC EXPERIENCE FOR A VERY YOUNG CHILD IF THE CASE IS CONTESTED," HE SAID.
CAN
"IT IS PROPOSED THAT ONLY CHILDREN AGED SEVEN OR BE REQUIRED TO APPEAR BEFORE THE COURT.
ABOVE SHOULD
17
LI
IT IS CONSIDERED THAT AT THAT AGE A CHILD IS OLD ENOUGH TO GIVEN THE RIGHT TO BE HEARD IN CARE PROCEEDINGS IN RESPECT OF HIS WELL BEING."
MR CHAMBERS
SAID THE
BE
OWN
TO
COURT NOTIFY THE
COURT WOULD HAVE THE DISCRETION REQUIRE A CHILD UNDER THE AGE OF SEVEN TO BE BROUGHT BEFORE THE
IN ANY CASE, THE COURT IF NECESSARY.
WAS
ΤΟ REQUIRED CHILD'S PARENT OR GUARDIAN OF THE CARE PROCEEDINGS.
ENABLE CHILDREN
HE SAID THE SECOND AND THIRD AMENDMENTS WOULD IN NEED OF CARE AND PROTECTION TO RECEIVE PROMPT MEDICAL TREATMENT.
SECTION HE SAID UNDER
IN
34A OF THE EXISTING
SUPERVISION ORDERS
ORDINANCE,
THE
SUCH
IN
RESPECT
OP MEDICAL
THE
PHYSICAL
CONDITION,
JUVENILE COURT WAS EMPOWERED TO INCLUDE REQUIREMENTS
AS IT CONSIDERED
NECESSARY TREATMENT FOR THE MENTAL CONDITION, BUT NOT OF A CHILD UNDER SUPERVISION,
/"THIS HAS