Senate debates

Wednesday, 11 May 2011

Committees

Legal and Constitutional Affairs References Committee; Reference

3:44 pm

Photo of Ian MacdonaldIan Macdonald (Queensland, Liberal Party, Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Northern and Remote Australia) Share this | | Hansard source

I move:

That the following matter be referred to the Legal and Constitutional Affairs References Committee for inquiry and report by 31 October 2011:

The incidence of international child abduction to and from Australia, including:

  (a)   the costs, terms and conditions of legal and departmental assistance for parents whose child has been abducted overseas;

  (b)   the effectiveness of the Hague Convention in returning children who were wrongly removed or retained, to their country of habitual residence;

  (c)   the roles of various Commonwealth departments involved in returning children who were wrongly removed or retained, to their country of habitual residence;

  (d)   policies, practices and strategies that could be introduced to streamline the return of abducted children; and

  (e)   any other related matters.

Question agreed to.