NT child protection bill one year in the making had 'limited' consultation

Brent Warren says "time constraints" meant there was little opportunity to consult on changes to child protection legislation. (ABC News: Tristan Hooft) A public briefing about controversial child protection changes has heard consultation was limited due to "time constraints". The NT government took a year to prepare the bill before it was introduced to parliament earlier this month. The NT Legislative Scrutiny Committee is set to prepare a report on the bill before it returns to parliament to be debated. Link copiedShareShare articleThe head of the NT Department of Children and Families says consultation about proposed child protection laws was limited due to "time constraints", despite the amendments being worked on for a year. The NT Legislative Scrutiny Committee today held a public briefing on the Care and Protection of Children Legislation Amendment Bill, which the government says will prioritise safety "above all other considerations". Minister Robyn Cahill introduced the amendments to NT parliament earlier this month, a week after three child protection workers were stood down following an internal investigation around the circumstances of Kumanjayi Little Baby before her alleged murder in Alice Springs. Robyn Cahill introduced the proposed changes to child protection legislation into parliament earlier this month. (ABC News: Marcus Kennedy) When the bill was introduced, Ms Cahill said it had been worked on for a year and was always scheduled to be introduced to parliament in May. Here's what you need to know about the proposed changes to the NT child protection legislation, introduced into parliament this week. Department of Children and Families chief executive Brent Warren today told the public briefing that consultation was affected by a lack of time. "During the work of the department to develop this bill, time constraints limited the opportunity for consultation prior to the introduction of the bill," he said. Since it was introduced, the bill has received criticism from a large group of Indigenous organisations, which say it weakens the Aboriginal Child Placement Principle. During the public briefing, Deputy Opposition Leader Dheran Young asked Mr Warren why consultation was not undertaken with Indigenous organisations if the department had a year to do so. Dheran Young asked the department's chief executive why Aboriginal organisations were not consulted about the changes. (ABC News: Pete Garnish) While Mr Warren did not directly respond to the question about Indigenous consultation, he said his department had worked "with other government departments" and "received submission or feedback from a range of sector organisations". It follows North Australian Aboriginal Justice Agency chief executive Ben Grimes stating that Indigenous organisations had not been consulted before the bill was introduced. Mr Warren also said the Aboriginal Child Placement Principle was not being removed. "What [the bill] does do is restructure the way placement principles operate in the legislation," he said. "The bill requires Aboriginal children who are removed from their parents to be placed as close as practicable to family and community and actively supported to maintain connection with culture, language and country, particularly where they are placed with a person who is not a member of their community or kinship group. "Those are not weakened provisions, they are explicit enforceable obligations." When speaking to media about the bill, Ms Cahill has repeatedly said safety is "not even mentioned" in the underlying principles section of the current legislation. During the public briefing, the department's acting executive director of strategic policy and commissioning, Michelle Ganzer, said there "had always been a principle" in the current legislation that "safety should be taken into consideration". Michelle Ganzer says while safety has always been a part of NT child protection laws, the proposed bill strengthens this principle. (ABC News: Tristan Hooft) However, Ms Ganzer said the proposed laws "strengthen that considerably" and made it "front and centre for all children of the territory". The NT Legislative Scrutiny Committee will now consider public submissions on the bill, before it returns to be debated in parliament. Copy linkFacebookX (formerly Twitter)Counselling and support services1800 Respect, National counselling helpline: 1800 737 732Bravehearts, counselling and support for survivors of child sexual abuse: 1800 272 831Lifeline, 24-hour crisis support and suicide prevention: 13 11 14Kids Helpline on 1800 551 800Headspace on 1800 650 890 (children and young people)ReachOut at au.reachout.com (children and young people)Find support services in your state or territory.

NT child protection bill one year in the making had 'limited' consultation

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