ADDITIONAL COMMENTS BY COALITION SENATORS

1.1        The proposed National Children's Commissioner represents a potentially valuable resource in efforts to improve services and protection for children, particularly vulnerable children.  However, Coalition Senators see benefit in a National Children's Commissioner only if such a position complements and supports the work of state and territory children's commissioners.

1.2        By necessity, the work of state and territory commissioners focuses on the needs of individual children who are at risk. The position of a national Commissioner, with the ability to address systemic factors affecting the welfare of children and to conduct research of national relevance, should be supportive of work going on in each state and territory. Considerable care will, however, need to be exercised by the National Commissioner to achieve this outcome, noting that all of the state and territory commissioners do presently have responsibilities to consider and make recommendations about systemic issues within their jurisdictions.

1.3        Coalition Senators recognise that much of the success or failure of the National Commissioner role will depend on the approach taken by its incumbent, and the extent to which that person is able to engineer effective outcomes in cooperation with colleagues working in the second tier of Australian government.

1.4        With this caution, Coalition Senators support the Bill.

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