Strengthening child abuse laws, more education and easier reporting of crimes are among recommended changes to toughen state laws protecting West Australia’s vulnerable.
Sixteen recommendations from a review into the Commissioner for Children and Young People Act were tabled in state parliament on Wednesday and are now open for public comment for the next three months.
Among the recommendation are the commissioner should receive complaints from children and young people, or adults acting on their behalf, about alleged child abuse, for referral on to the relevant investigative authority.
WA Attorney General Michael Mischin said the review found overall the Act had operated effectively and achieved the purpose of promoting the wellbeing of children and young people in Western Australia.
However, Mr Mischin said the review identified some areas for improvement.
“Most significantly, the review considered whether any amendments to the Act were necessary to enable the commissioner to undertake a child abuse complaints support role, as recommended by the report of the St Andrew’s hostel special inquiry,” Mr Mischin said.
“The review found a great deal of support in the submissions for the commissioner to exercise this role, but recommended against the commissioner investigating individual child abuse complaints as this would duplicate the role of existing investigative bodies.
“Rather, the commissioner should focus on preventative measures and provide information and referrals to children and young people about support services available for victims of child abuse.”
Mr Mischin said following careful consideration of the review, as well as the interim report of the Commonwealth Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse, the government had provided its in-principle support to each of the recommendations.
“Full implementation of the proposed child abuse complaints support role for the Commissioner for Children and Young People will be deferred to allow for the findings and recommendations of the Royal Commission to be taken into account,” he said.
Mr Mischin said work on implementing the recommendations and recruiting a permanent commissioner would start shortly.
Opposition child protection spokesman Stephen Dawson said a "one-stop-shop" of resources was needed to support the Commissioner.
"We should be making it easier for people to report child abuse," Mr Dawson said.
"You can't have too much monitoring of these issues."
