NSW: Law changes to stop child killers ever working with kids

AAP General News (Australia)
12-29-2006
NSW: Law changes to stop child killers ever working with kids

By Lisa Allan

SYDNEY, Dec 29 AAP - Child murderers and producers of child pornography will be permanently
banned from ever working with children under changes to NSW laws taking affect from January
2.

Adults convicted of intentionally causing grievous bodily harm to a child would also
be banned from working with children under the amendments to the NSW Commission for Children
and Young People Act, NSW Youth Minister Reba Meagher said today.

The changes "will make it harder for unsuitable people to gain employment around kids
and will also make it simpler for employers to create child-safe, child-friendly workplaces,"

Ms Meagher said.

Under the changes, adults convicted of the most serious child offences will be unable
to seek a review of their ban from working with children, a spokesman for the minister
said.

"Adults convicted of the most serious crimes such as child murder or producing child
pornography will not be able to seek a review of their prohibited status automatically
banning them from child-related employment with no appeal," he said.

Changes to the Children and Young Persons (Care and Protection Act), taking effect
from Tuesday, will require courts to give weight to evidence that a parent or carer has
previously had children removed from their care.

The new rules also will apply when a person has been identified by the coroner or police
in connection with a child death.

Law changes designed to cut red tape for councils and to give more powers against irresponsible
dog owners will come into affect on Monday, January 1, a spokesman for Local Government
Minister Kerry Hickey said today.

Amendments to the definition of a dangerous dog eligible for immediate destruction
will be broadened to include dogs used or kept for hunting large animals such as wild
pigs, and dogs that display unreasonable aggression towards a person or an animal, he
said.

Other changes to the Companion Animals Act also will require all dogs to be micro-chipped,
with the exception of working dogs.

AAP lma/hn/srp/cjh/cdh

KEYWORD: CHANGES NSW

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