Statutes Amendment (Youth Court) Bill

Final Stages

Consideration in committee of the Legislative Council's message No. 103.

(Continued from 21 June 2016.)

The Hon. J.R. RAU: I move:

That the disagreement to the amendments of the Legislative Council be no longer insisted upon.

Ms CHAPMAN: It is with great delight that we receive the government's indication that they no longer disagree with the amendments presented from the Legislative Council. This is an important area of reform. We have fought continuously to ensure that there is supervision of the Youth Court at a senior level, and that has now prevailed. It is consistent with Margaret Nyland, a former Supreme Court judge and now Commissioner for Child Protection Systems in South Australia.

Whilst it has taken a long time for the government come to this position, we thank Commissioner Nyland for her advice on this matter and appreciate that the government has now acquiesced to this position. It is an important area of reform, and it is an important area of protection for young people who either need protection or support to get back on track.

The Hon. J.R. RAU: I thank the honourable member for her contribution.

Ms Chapman interjecting:

The Hon. J.R. RAU: Okay, but I did want to say that I missed the opportunity yesterday to congratulate her on a happy occasion, so I just wanted to make that—

The CHAIR: I think everyone in the country now knows that it was her birthday yesterday, and she survived—that is the main point.

An honourable member interjecting:

The CHAIR: Well, 'you' plural. The question before the house is that the house no longer insist on its disagreement with the Legislative Council's amendments.

Motion carried.