Morrison and Johnson
THE CHILD Care and Protection Act has been passed in the Senate, bringing legislation geared at reinforcing and creating new child protection laws closer to reality.
The Bill, already passed in the House of Representatives, will now return to the Lower House before going to the Governor-General for his signature.
During Thursday's debate on the new child care legislation, Anthony Johnson, Leader of Opposition Business in the Senate, argued for adjustments in some of the penalty provisions, but fought a losing battle.
Senator Johnson argued vehemently that the fine of $1 million for the publication of sensitive information related to a child was too excessive.
REPORTS
Referring to the provision, which requires individuals who reasonably suspect that abuse has occurred to make a report, he claimed that while it was desirable that citizens file such reports, it was unfair to subject them to a $500,000 fine if they did not.
However, Senator Johnson's own colleague on the Opposition bench, Senator Shirley Williams, sought to dissuade him from continuing his argument.
"The committee deliberated and deliberated about fines and we looked at all of the fines here and we came to an agreement as to what was fair," she said.
She also pointed out that the penalty, depending on the circumstances, would not necessarily be as high as $500,000.
"I urge us not to try to adjust the fines (or wording) here," said Senator Williams, who was a member of the joint select committee that examined the Bill.
But in a sharp retort, Senator Johnson said: "The way to hell is paved with good intentions. I am not going to be a part of any good intention dealings. I've seen too much of it."
He added: "I don't know what took place in this committee. They can always work themselves up into a fine lather; this is the law ... when it is passed it will become the law."
Intervening, Government Senator Deika Morrison said that the issues dealt with in the Bill were actually taking place in society "and happening on a broader scale than any of us could possibly imagine".
She argued that the long-term effects of child abuse are not only on the child, but also on his/her children and their children's children.
"Whatever your opinion on the committee is, the committee deliberated on all sides of this argument, and the committee was of the very firm view that if we don't ensure that people start reporting (incidents of abuse), then all the changes we are trying to achieve in this country ... we are not going to get," said Senator Morrison, who was also a member of the child care committee.
