Child Safe Organisations Bill 2024 (Qld)

An Act to establish child safe standards and a reportable conduct scheme to promote and protect the rights, interests and wellbeing of children in Queensland, and to amend this Act, the Evidence Act 1977, the Family and Child Commission Act 2014, the Working with Children (Risk Management and Screening) Act 2000 and the legislation mentioned in schedules 4 and 5 for particular purposes The Parliament of Queensland enacts—

Chapter 1 Preliminary

Part 1 Introduction

1 Short title This Act may be cited as the Child Safe Organisations Act 2024.

2 Commencement (1) This Act, other than the provisions mentioned in subsections (2) to (6), commences on 1 October 2025. (2) Schedule 1, sections 1, 3, 6, 7 and 12 commence on 1 January 2026. (3) The following provisions commence on 1 April 2026— (a) chapter 10, parts 4 and 5, other than section 128; (b) schedule 1, sections 2, 9, 10 and 11; (c) schedules 4 and 5. (4) The following provisions commence on 1 July 2026— (a) section 3(2)(c) and (d); (b) chapter 3; (c) chapter 4, part 3; (d) section 58(1)(b) and (c); (e) section 59(1)(b); (f) section 60(6), definition relevant entity, paragraph (d); (g) section 91(2)(b) to (f) and (4), definition relevant person, paragraphs (b) to (e); (h) section 98(c); (i) section 103(1)(b); (j) section 107(2); (k) section 112; (l) chapter 10, part 2; (m) section 128; (n) schedule 2, sections 4, 5, 8 and 9. (5) Schedule 2, sections 1, 6 and 7 commence on 1 January 2027. (6) Schedule 2, sections 2 and 3 commence on 1 July 2027.

3 Main purposes (1) The main purposes of this Act are— (a) to protect children from harm; and (b) to promote the safety, wellbeing and best interests of children. (2) The main purposes are to be primarily achieved by— (a) providing for the implementation of, and compliance with, the child safe standards and universal principle by particular entities in Queensland; and (b) the oversight by the commission of the implementation of, and compliance with, the child safe standards and universal principle; and (c) providing for a scheme for— (i) preventing reportable conduct; and (ii) reporting, notifying and investigating reportable allegations and reportable convictions; and (iii) taking appropriate action in response to findings of reportable conduct; and (d) providing for the oversight by the commission of the scheme mentioned in paragraph (c).