Chris Evans (WA, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Government in the Senate) Share this | Hansard source

I notice that Senator Fisher was on the list of speakers but is not here. I will sum up for the government and she can speak in the committee stage if she wants to make a contribution. I also understand that Senator Xenophon was interested in contributing, but he is paired at the moment. So I will sum up unless someone urgently seeks the call. They can make a contribution in the committee stage. I understand that, in addition to the government amendment, there are some Greens amendments.

First of all, I thank the senators for their contributions to the debate. Protecting children from any form of abuse is a matter of utmost importance for the government and for the parliament as a whole. The Crimes Amendment (Working With Children—Criminal History) Bill 2009 will enhance the mechanisms in place to ensure that people who work with children are properly vetted. It will enable organisations conducting working with children checks to consider the full criminal history of a person. The bill includes stringent safeguards to ensure that the information is dealt with appropriately and to limit any potential misuse of the information. As I indicated, I will be moving a government amendment that inserts the provision providing for a further review of the legislation in 2013 in addition to the review in 2011. I think that is largely uncontroversial and we think it is an improvement. We must all take steps to protect our children and I think this bill will enhance our overall strategy for managing risks to the safety and wellbeing of children. I thank senators for their contributions and we will obviously look to debate the amendments in the committee stages.

Question agreed to.

Bill read a second time.