Child Death Review Legislation Amendment Bill 2019 (Qld)

An Act to amend the Child Protection Act 1999, the Director of Child Protection Litigation Act 2016 and the Family and Child Commission Act 2014 for particular purposes The Parliament of Queensland enacts—

Part 1 Preliminary

1 Short title This Act may be cited as the Child Death Review Legislation Amendment Act 2019.

2 Commencement This Act commences on a day to be fixed by proclamation.

Part 2 Amendment of Child Protection Act 1999

3 Act amended This part amends the Child Protection Act 1999.

4 Amendment of s 7 (Chief executive's functions) (1) Section 7(1)(p)— insert— (iii) to support collaboration and joint learning between the department and other relevant agencies; and (2) Section 7(2)— insert— relevant agency see section 245B.

5 Amendment of s 188 (Confidentiality of information given by persons involved in administration of Act to other persons) Section 188(3)(d), 'the chief executive under section 246C'— omit, insert— the head of a relevant agency under section 245T

6 Replacement of ch 7A (Child deaths and other matters) Chapter 7A— omit, insert—

Chapter 7A Internal agency reviews following child deaths or injuries

Part 1 Preliminary

245 Overview of chapter and purpose of reviews (1) This chapter provides for a system under which, if a child dies or suffers serious physical injury after a relevant agency has been involved with the child, the agency's head must carry out a review of its involvement. (2) The system also provides for a review of the office of the litigation director's involvement in a matter concerning the child if the litigation director has performed a litigation function. (3) The purpose of the reviews is to promote the safety and wellbeing of children who come into contact with the child protection system by— (a) facilitating ongoing learning and improvement in the provision of services by the agencies and the litigation director; and (b) promoting the accountability of the agencies and the litigation director; and (c) supporting collaboration and joint learning by the agencies. (4) In the case of child deaths, review reports are given to an independent board under the Family and Child Commission Act 2014, part 3A, which carries out further reviews of relevant systems.