Page 2178 - Week 06 - Wednesday, 9 May 2012
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Consideration should therefore be given to whether there should be more guidance in relation to action to be taken by police and the Chief Executive—
of the Community Services Directorate—
regarding an alleged breach of a bail condition/s by a young person.
We are now all keenly awaiting the blueprint for youth justice, which will set out how the youth justice system will operate and the reforms, programs and policies that are needed to achieve this.
The ACT Greens are today presenting this amendment to the Bail Act as it will provide part of the solution that is needed to reduce remand periods for children in the ACT, in cases where remand periods could be far more detrimental than a community-based response.
While appreciating that the blueprint is in development, it is important that we act promptly to reduce remand periods for children. This bill would create consistency across various acts that deal with children’s interactions with the criminal justice system. The inclusion of the youth justice principles, as described in the Children and Young People Act, section 94, is designed to provide a greater focus on the best interests of the child in determining a response from the criminal justice system, including the police.
I hope that all parties will agree on working to ensure that the best interests of the vulnerable children and young people in our city are paramount, even those engaged in our youth justice system, and I commend this bill to the Assembly.
Debate (on motion by Mr Corbell) adjourned to the next sitting.
Road Transport (General) (Infringement Notices) Amendment Bill 2012
Debate resumed from 22 February 2012, on motion by Ms Bresnan:
That this bill be agreed to in principle.
MR CORBELL (Molonglo—Attorney-General, Minister for Police and Emergency Services and Minister for the Environment and Sustainable Development) (10.26): As members would be aware, late last year the Chief Minister established an expert panel to develop a targeted assistance strategy. One of the issues identified for consideration as part of the strategy was the need to provide greater assistance for people with fines or penalties who are experiencing financial difficulty in paying them. The expert panel’s considerations included examining the arrangements currently in place for paying fees, fines and penalties to see what steps needed to be taken to implement various options for more flexible payment arrangements.
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