The Tasmanian Greens today secured a commitment from the Minister for Children Michelle O’Byrne that key Greens concerns in relation to the Children’s Commissioner’s role, powers and length of tenure will be addressed.
The Greens today supported a Labor amendment to the Liberal Party’s motion to ensure that issues including the Commissioner’s investigative powers and the term of the appointment are prioritised as part of the current review process by the Legislative Amendments Review Reference Committee.
Mr O’Halloran also welcomed the news that an Acting Children’s Commissioner will be put in place, and that the successful appointee will contribute to resolving role, functions and tenure issues.
”This amendment ensures that concerns over limits on the Commissioner’s investigative powers and the length of tenure for the position are addressed as part of the existing review, and in consultation with the Acting Commissioner,” Mr O’Halloran said.
“The Greens were instrumental in establishing the Child Protection Committee, and as the Chair of that Committee I believe it makes logical sense for any review of the Commissioner’s role to be an extension of that process.”
“The Minister has assured us that the legislative review committee will be handing down its report in a fortnight and including a progress report on the issues of the Commissioner’s role and tenure.”
“We will wait to read the legislative review committee’s findings before forming a view over the best legislative way forward to address these issues.”
“We remain firm that our concerns over the position’s capacity to initiate its own investigations must be resolved, along with concerns over the short tenure length of three years.”
“The Children’s Commissioner position is a crucial advocate for some of our most vulnerable, and if there are serious problems identified as impacting on the effectiveness and capacity of this position, then they need to be fixed quickly.”
“The public must have confidence that Commissioners are able to conduct their work effectively and at arm’s length from the Minister of the day.”
Paul O’Halloran MP Greens Children’s Spokesperson
