Published Tuesday, 26 February, 2008 at 05:00 AM
Premier
The Honourable Anna Bligh
Ground-breaking legislation: Families Responsibilities Commission to be introduced into Queensland Parliament today
Parents who fail to send their children to school, those who abuse or neglect their children and people who trash their homes could have their welfare payments managed by a new Queensland Family Responsibility Commission.
The legislation to support a trial of a radical new way of improving the lives of indigenous people in Queensland will come before the State Parliament today.
The Family Responsibilities Commission Bill will be introduced by the Queensland Premier, Anna Bligh to support the restoration of social norms, community authority and individual responsibility in four trial communities.
“This is a radical trial – unique in the world - and I know many people around Australia will be closely watching the trial in Aurukun, Coen, Hope Vale and Mossman Gorge when it begins in July this year.
“While we have a very long way to go I want to congratulate the community leaders in the four communities and the Cape York Institute for their commitment to this trial.
“Some 1800 people who currently receive welfare payments or receive CDEP program funding could be subject to the decisions of the Commission during the trial.
“The commission will apply to people who have lived in the trial communities for 3 months and to both Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal community members. Those who could be subject to Commission decisions are people who are:
• welfare recipients; or
• who reside (or resided at relevant times) in trial communities
The four triggers to bring a person before the Commission will be:
• The person’s child has three absences in a school term without reasonable excuse or a child is not enrolled in school without lawful excuse; or
• The person is the subject of a child safety notification or report; or
• A magistrates court convicts the person of an offence; or
• The person breaches his or her State or council owned housing tenancy agreement (illegal purpose, nuisance, condition report, malicious damage, rent arrears).
“The Commissioner and Deputy Commissioner will be appointed by the State Government in consultation with the leadership of the trial communities, the Commonwealth and the Cape York Institute.
“Local commissioners will be appointed by the State Government on the nomination of local Community Justice Groups, where applicable, and in consultation of the local elected leadership.
“The trial will be run until January 1, 2012 and will be independently evaluated by an organisation which will be chosen from tender.
“The Act will also give new reporting responsibilities to school principals (state and private), child safety workers, magistrates’ courts and Department of Housing officers.
“Importantly the decision to manage some or all of a person’s income will be made at the local level with the Family Responsibilities Commission (FRC) sitting locally with local commissioners.
“People who come before the Commission will be interviewed and could face everything from a warning to agreements that force them to attend community support services.
“As a last resort, the commission will have the power to order that people have their income be managed for up to 12 months.
“It will be difficult for people who are doing the wrong thing to avoid the consequences of their behaviour by moving out of a trial community as the Commission will be able to follow a person in co-operation with Commonwealth agencies.
“We are embarking upon a world-first.
“During the trial there will no doubt be many successes and just as many challenges.
“Indigenous communities in Queensland have a lot riding on the success of the trial.
“We are already working with the mayors of all of our indigenous communities to further tighten alcohol supplies and to increase drug and alcohol services.
“The FRC presents a new way of tackling an established and distressing problem.
“Should it prove successful we will have no hesitation in seeking commonwealth assistance to extend this to all welfare recipients in Queensland,” the Premier said
Tuesday February 26, 2008
For more information: Premier’s Office – 3224 4500
The legislation to support a trial of a radical new way of improving the lives of indigenous people in Queensland will come before the State Parliament today.
The Family Responsibilities Commission Bill will be introduced by the Queensland Premier, Anna Bligh to support the restoration of social norms, community authority and individual responsibility in four trial communities.
“This is a radical trial – unique in the world - and I know many people around Australia will be closely watching the trial in Aurukun, Coen, Hope Vale and Mossman Gorge when it begins in July this year.
“While we have a very long way to go I want to congratulate the community leaders in the four communities and the Cape York Institute for their commitment to this trial.
“Some 1800 people who currently receive welfare payments or receive CDEP program funding could be subject to the decisions of the Commission during the trial.
“The commission will apply to people who have lived in the trial communities for 3 months and to both Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal community members. Those who could be subject to Commission decisions are people who are:
• welfare recipients; or
• who reside (or resided at relevant times) in trial communities
The four triggers to bring a person before the Commission will be:
• The person’s child has three absences in a school term without reasonable excuse or a child is not enrolled in school without lawful excuse; or
• The person is the subject of a child safety notification or report; or
• A magistrates court convicts the person of an offence; or
• The person breaches his or her State or council owned housing tenancy agreement (illegal purpose, nuisance, condition report, malicious damage, rent arrears).
“The Commissioner and Deputy Commissioner will be appointed by the State Government in consultation with the leadership of the trial communities, the Commonwealth and the Cape York Institute.
“Local commissioners will be appointed by the State Government on the nomination of local Community Justice Groups, where applicable, and in consultation of the local elected leadership.
“The trial will be run until January 1, 2012 and will be independently evaluated by an organisation which will be chosen from tender.
“The Act will also give new reporting responsibilities to school principals (state and private), child safety workers, magistrates’ courts and Department of Housing officers.
“Importantly the decision to manage some or all of a person’s income will be made at the local level with the Family Responsibilities Commission (FRC) sitting locally with local commissioners.
“People who come before the Commission will be interviewed and could face everything from a warning to agreements that force them to attend community support services.
“As a last resort, the commission will have the power to order that people have their income be managed for up to 12 months.
“It will be difficult for people who are doing the wrong thing to avoid the consequences of their behaviour by moving out of a trial community as the Commission will be able to follow a person in co-operation with Commonwealth agencies.
“We are embarking upon a world-first.
“During the trial there will no doubt be many successes and just as many challenges.
“Indigenous communities in Queensland have a lot riding on the success of the trial.
“We are already working with the mayors of all of our indigenous communities to further tighten alcohol supplies and to increase drug and alcohol services.
“The FRC presents a new way of tackling an established and distressing problem.
“Should it prove successful we will have no hesitation in seeking commonwealth assistance to extend this to all welfare recipients in Queensland,” the Premier said
Tuesday February 26, 2008
For more information: Premier’s Office – 3224 4500