Committee on Children and Young People
The Committee on Children and Young People is a current joint statutory committee, established 11 April 2000, re-established 22 June 2011.
The primary responsibility of the Committee on Children and Young People is to monitor and review the work of the Commission for Children and Young People and report its findings and recommendations to Parliament. In particular, the Committee is required to examine and report on annual and other reports of the Commission for Children and Young People. However, the Committee has a broader responsibility to examine trends and changes in services and issues affecting children and young people, and to make recommendations as to the need for changes to the functions and procedures of the Commission for Children and Young People.
The terms of reference for the Committee are set out in Part 6 of the Commission for Children and Young People Act 1998, sections 27-30 and Schedule 1.
Extract from the Commission for Children and Young People Act 1998:
s.28 (1) The Parliamentary Joint Committee has the following functions under this Act:
(a) to monitor and review the exercise by the Commission of its functions;
(b) to report to both Houses of Parliament, with such comments as it thinks fit, on any matter appertaining to the Commission or connected with the exercise of its functions to which, in the opinion of the Joint Committee, the attention of Parliament should be directed;
(c) to examine each annual or other report of the Commission and report to both Houses of Parliament on any matter appearing in, or arising out of, any such report;
(d) to examine trends and changes in services and issues affecting children, and report to both Houses of Parliament any changes that the Joint Committee thinks desirable to the functions and procedures of the Commission;
(e) to inquire into any question in connection with the Committee's functions which is referred to it by both Houses of Parliament, and report to both Houses on that question.
It is important to note that the Committee on Children and Young People cannot investigate a matter relating to particular conduct (s.28 (2)).
Ms Megan Mitchell is the Commissioner for Children and Young People.
The Commission is located at:
Level 2, 407 Elizabeth Street
Surry Hills NSW 2010.
Telephone: (02) 9286 7276
Fax: (02) 9286 7267
Inquiries (click to show)
During the current parliament, the following inquiries have been undertaken by the committee:
Records of 25 earlier inquiries conducted by the committee are also available online.
Submissions invited (click to show)
The committee is not actively receiving submissions at present. Past submissions may be available under the relevant inquiry.
Reports and government responses (click to show)
The committee has not published any reports during the current parliament.
Records of earlier reports published by the committee appear below:
Members (click to show)
Contact (click to show)
Postal address (click to show)
Committee on Children and Young People
Parliament House
Macquarie Street
SYDNEY NSW 2000
Terms of Reference establishing Committee (click to show)
Resolution passed by the Legislative Assembly, 22 June 2011, 1st Session, Votes and Proceedings No. 23, Item 12 (6), p.198.
Resolution passed by the Legislative Council 22 June 2011, Minutes No. 23, Item 30 (4) p.260.
Resolution passed by the Legislative Assembly, 22 June 2011
(6) Committee on Children and Young People
That:
(1) In accordance with section 29 (1) (b) of the Commission for Children and Young People Act 1998, the following members of the Legislative Assembly be appointed to serve on the Committee on Children and Young People: Mr Andrew Cornwell, Mr Andrew Gee, Ms Melanie Gibbons and Dr Andrew McDonald.
(2) The Committee have leave to make visits of inspection within the State of New South Wales and other States and Territories of Australia.
(3) A message be sent acquainting the Legislative Council of the resolution and requesting the Legislative Council to appoint three of its members to serve on the Committee.
Resolution passed by the Legislative Council 22 June 2011
4) Committee on Children and Young People
1. That under section 27 of the Commission for Children and Young People Act 1998, a joint
committee known as the Committee on Children and Young People be appointed.
2. That under section 29 (1)(a) of the Act, Mrs Melinda Pavey, Ms Jan Barham and Mr Greg Donnelly be appointed to serve on the committee as members of the Legislative Council.
Resolution passed by the Legislative Council 23 June 2011
Committee on Children and Young People
That Mrs Pavey be discharged from the Committee on Children and Young People and Mr Blair be appointed as a member of the committee.
Further reading (click to show)