[no bill text published] Criminal offence for recklessly breaching family responsibility orders
Care and Protection of Children Legislation Amendment (Every Child Matters) Bill 2026
Assembly
Links to official parliament websites
Effects of this bill
If this bill passes, it means that:
It is a criminal offence for a person to recklessly breach a family responsibility order.
The CEO must apply for a family responsibility order if they believe it is necessary for a child.
The CEO must notify parents of the order's duration and effect; they must also provide a formal notice of the court's decision.
Family responsibility agreements cannot last longer than 12 months.
Family support service operators can now be parties to family responsibility agreements.
The Authority is barred from imposing interim bars on worker screening under the Care and Protection of Children Act 2007.
Lawyers cannot represent more than one child in the same proceedings unless a court allows it.