an ncylc e-bulletin

Issue #5: February 2005

POLICY WORK

A Commissioner for Children and Young People in the Australian Capital Territory
Volunteers Ying Zhou and Iris Thompson, together with Leanne Kohler and Louise Goodchild, prepared a submission to the Australian Capital Territory Government regarding its proposal to establish a Commissioner for Children and Young People in the Australian Capital Territory. Generally, NCYLC is in support of the proposal so long as the Commissioner is independent and recognises that children have rights (as opposed to considering merely their welfare and interests).

Inquiry into the Disability Discrimination Amendment (Education Standards) Bill 2004
In addition to hosting a round-table discussion involving the Public Interest Advocacy Centre (PIAC), Family Advocacy, and People with Disabilities, NCYLC made a submission to the Senate Legal and Constitutional References and Legislation Committee Inquiry into the Disability Discrimination Amendment (Education Standards) Bill 2004 (Cth).

While the purpose of the Bill is to amend the Disability Discrimination Act 1992 (Cth) to ensure the provisions of the Draft Standards on disability discrimination in education are fully supported by the Act, NCYLC is of the view that the Bill fails to achieve this purpose. We submitted that Bill should be amended so as to:
· set out a more inclusive definition of education provider;
· impose an express obligation to provide non-discriminatory treatment up to the point of unjustifiable hardship; and
· introduce the concept of 'reasonable adjustment' and 'substantive equality' into the Disability Discrimination Act.

WHAT'S UP CROC?
As a party to the Convention on the Rights of the Child ("CROC"), the Australian Government is required to file status reports with the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child - the body that monitors how well countries are meeting their obligations under the Convention. Australia's next report will be considered by the Committee in September 2005.

As you may be aware, NCYLC, together with Defence for Children International Australia, has been busy preparing a non-government "shadow report" on Australia's implementation of CROC. National consultation has taken place, and the writing of the report has now commenced.

We have many groups of people involved in the preparation of the NGO report. There include:
· the National Steering Committee (NSC), which is comprised of representatives from Community Legal Centres and youth peak bodies from each State and Territory;
· Authors, who are contributing to specific sections of the report. Authors include Richard Chisholm, Owen Jessep, Judy Cashmore, Judith Bessant, Gwynnyth Llewellyn, and Eva Cox, as well as staff and volunteers at the NCYLC; and
· The National Advisory Group (NAG), whose primary role will be to review the draft version of the NGO report to ensure that the status and experiences of Australian children are portrayed accurately.

Current members of the NAG include Margaret Alston, Julian Disney, Marcus Einfeld, Malcolm Fraser, Carolyn Hardy, Cleonie Quayle, Moira Raynor, Margaret Reynolds and Father Chris Riley.
Click here to visit the CROC website.

New Lawstuff Content
A huge thank you to Claire Galt, a cyber volunteer who has recently prepared some information on Family Law for each jurisidiction. As you are aware we get heaps of inquiries and LawMails regarding Family Law, so this is a really welcomed addition to the site!.

If you have't checked out the Lawstuff website lately, have a look by clicking here, it really is fantastic!