Earlier this month, QCEC’s Chief Operating Officer Chris Woolley and I appeared before the Queensland Parliament’s Legal Affairs and Community Safety Committee for a hearing into the Criminal Code (Child Sexual Offences Reform) and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2019.

Media focus on this proposed legislation has largely been on the effects of the legislation on the seal of the Confessional.

There are, however, other important aspects to the bill which will affect schools and could be difficult to implement at the local level.

While we support the intent of the legislation, it must be workable in a school context.

As part of our submission we have asked the Queensland Government to consider a review of the complex array of legislation that currently applies in child safety matters.

The committee is due to deliver its report to Parliament next week.

Read QCEC’s submission to the committee here.