MEDIA RELEASE

12 September 2003

Opposition call for an Independent Children's Commission – A Step in the right direction

The Children and Young People’s Commission Coalition welcomes the Victorian Liberal Party’s commitment to establish an independent Children and young people’s Commission in Victoria. Helen Shardey, Shadow Community Services spokesperson, released the Liberal Party policy in Parliament today.

The Coalition, led by the Youth Affairs Council of Victoria, the Law Institute of Victoria, the Children’s Welfare Association of Victoria, Youth Law and Defence for Children International – Australia, strongly believes an independent Commissioner will enable a coordinated and effective response to the rights, interests and well-being of all children and young people.

‘A Commission would give Victoria a truly independent and specialised 'champion' for all children and young people‘ said Paula Grogan, Policy Officer, Youth Affairs Council of Victoria.

A Commission would have a broad overview of the issues in the government, community and commercial sectors which affect them.

‘It’s also important that we recognise the need to create a voice for marginalised children and young people’ Coleen Clare, Executive Officer of the Children’s Welfare Association of Victoria said. ‘The sad reality for many children in Victoria is lack of safety in their own homes due to reasons such as mental illness, drug abuse and domestic violence. However, if we want to address the causes of child abuse and neglect before families get into trouble then we need to look beyond the out of home care system and instead help parents early and address wider social concerns.’

Bill O’Shea, President of the Law Institute of Victoria said ‘a Commission is about foresight. For a very small investment it will allow us to address the needs of children and young people proactively. We need to avoid the same old story of patching up problems when we hit crisis point’.

Some examples of the work the Commission could do include:

• Monitor consumer protection mechanisms and practices including complaint processes which impact directly on young people.
• Work with local governments in developing mechanisms to respond to complaints about private security officers in shopping centres.
• Advise how proposed and existing laws impact on children and young people.

We hope that there can be a bi-partisan approach to these issues.

The Children and Young People’s Commission Coalition is a broad based community coalition which supports the establishment of a Children’s Commission. Currently around 40 organisations are members of the Coalition.

Further media comment:
Coleen Clare
Children’s Welfare Association Victoria
0411 696 601

Paul Conroy
Law Institute Victoria
0418 371 099

Paula Grogan
Youth Affairs Council of Victoria
0412 822 488