Expansion of Child-Related Employment Definitions for Legal Aid ACT

ACT Expansion of Child-Related Employment Definitions for Legal Aid ACT

Crimes (Child Sex Offenders) Amendment Bill 2025

14 Mar 2025: Passed by Parliament and signed off by the governor.

This bill kicks in: TBA

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Topics

child protection child safety legal aid legal services

Introduced by: The Hon Tara Cheyne MLA (ALP) — Attorney-General, Minister , Minister for City and Government Services, Minister for Human Rights, Minister for the Night-Time Economy

Links to official parliament websites

Official page: progress through parliament

Effects of this bill

If this bill passes, it means that:

Legal services provided by Legal Aid ACT for children are now classified as child-related employment.

This includes providing legal advice to a child; representing a child in a legal matter.

It also covers representing a person in a proceeding where a child is a witness.

The bill confirms that the Commission operating as Legal Aid ACT is the entity covered by these rules.

The Debate

What different members said when this bill was debated:

Marisa Paterson ALP

“Together with Ms Cheyne, I move: That this bill be agreed to in principle. I am pleased to be presenting this bill today, which will enhance children’s rights to protection—the Crimes (Child Sex Offenders) Amendment Bill 2025. The Crimes (Child Sex Offenders) Act 2005 establishes and governs the administration of the child sex offender register.”

Official source →

Tara Cheyne ALP

“I am pleased to co-sponsor the introduction of Crimes (Child Sex Offenders) Amendment Bill 2025 today. As it stands, the act establishes a child sex offender register scheme for the ACT. There are similar schemes in all other jurisdictions in Australia.”