Govt mulls appointment of children's commissioner
Posted
Updated
The biggest increase in the number of notifications was in New South Wales. (ABC News)
The Federal Government says it will consider creating a federal commissioner for children after a new report revealed a rise in the number of children suffering violent and sexual abuse.
The report by the Australian Law Reform Commission says there has been a three-fold rise in the number of children needing protection from violent and sexual abuse over the last decade.
While the report's findings were based on both substantiated and unsubstantiated child-protection notifications, the number of substantiated notifications also increased dramatically - almost doubling from 29,833 to 58,563.
Federal Minister for Community Services Jenny Macklin says the figures show the need for action.
"There's no question that these are just shocking figures," she said.
Report author James McDougall says few sexual predators are convicted and the lack of early intervention policies have failed many children.
"We're still not getting effective justice for children in a whole range of areas," he said.
He says it is a problem that could be addressed by the creation of a federal commissioner position.
"We now have a commissioner in almost every state and territory and that position is able to draw attention to these areas of deficiencies in terms of public policy," he said.
"That clearly is needed at a national level as well."
After agreeing with state governments yesterday to share Centrelink information with child protection agencies, Ms Macklin says she will now look at the Law Reform Commission's recommendation of creating a federal children's commissioner.
