XN000022-1987-07-01 — Page 35

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