Released 02/09/2019
New laws for reporting child abuse have started in the ACT. This includes a new failure to report offence, an expansion of Mandatory Reporters and changes to the Reportable Conduct Scheme.
Attorney-General Gordon Ramsay said the ACT Government was committed to putting in place laws that protect children and to implementing Royal Commission findings.
“From 1 September, adults who reasonably believe that a sexual offence has been committed against a child must make a report to police. Importantly, failure to make a report is now an offence,” Mr Ramsay said.
“Ministers of religion, religious leaders and members of the clergy of a church or religious denomination will be Mandated Reporters. There is no exception under the new failure to report offence for information about child sexual abuse disclosed in a religious confession.
“The recommendations of the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse provide a framework for making our society a safer place for children and ensuring our systems respond better to victims.
“The changes are the latest in this series of reforms to protect vulnerable Canberrans. Further work will follow, including implementing the National Child Safe Standards and introducing a witness intermediary scheme to help victims give evidence to police and the courts.”
Work to implement Royal Commissioner recommendations has so far included signing up to the Redress scheme, making improvements to sentencing laws and criminal procedures, and enacting a new offence for a person in an institution failing to protect against child sexual abuse.
The ACT Government is running an ongoing community awareness campaign to promotes the new laws and outline responsibilities and guidance for the community.
For further information on the new laws visit: www.act.gov.au/childabuseroyalcommission.
- Statement ends -
Gordon Ramsay, MLA | Media Releases
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