Jacinta Collins (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Parliamentary Secretary for School Education and Workplace Relations) Share this | Hansard source

The government welcomes any discussion about furthering the promotion and protection of children's rights. The Attorney-General's Department is conducting a consultation to this effect. No decision has yet been made as to whether Australia may become a party to the optional protocol and Australia has not made any statement regarding refusal to sign. It would be premature to announce an intention to become a party to the optional protocol without undertaking appropriate consultation processes, as we are currently doing.