PANIC seeks to reform the Child Care and Protection system by using the democratic processes available to all citizens. There are several ways to do so.
While law reform is one way to do this it, is rare that Parliament debates law relating to Child Care and Protection. In recent years, when Parliament has called for submissions on relevant laws, PANIC members have made submissions to Parliament's select committees.
Petitions to Parliament are another way that problems with the law can get an airing in a public forum. In some cases, a petition will prompt a law change, if the government of the day is of a mind to make one. In other cases, petitions will serve as an opportunity to at least air views and perhaps criticise some branch of government.
A third way to reform the system is to change the decisions of the Courts. However, this first requires the Courts to hear a case that sets a precedent from someone who can take the case. Also, because the Family Court is closed, finding such precedents reported in a public forum is difficult.
Other ways to effect reform are to complain to various government officials or lobby politicians. Some political parties will use the complaints they get from constituents as the basis for their political manifestos.
If you have ideas for how the system can be improved or been involved in a precedent setting case please let us know.
PANIC has made submissions on the proposed repeal of Section 59 of the Crimes Act. More details are in our Newsletters
| Past P.A.N.I.C
Petitions The following PANIC petitions are shown here for historic information and to give ideas about what future petitions could be about. They are no longer active.
That because of the widespread dissatisfaction with
the performance of the Child Youth & Family Service, specifically
the unnecessary removal of children from their families and the safety
of all children in the custody of CYFS - Download Petition no.1 here in Word.doc Format
That in the interests of reducing the unnecessary removal
of children from their parent(s) and providing more appropriate services
to children and their families: (a) that the investigation, prosecution and review functions concerning all Care and Protection and Youth Justice cases, currently performed by the Child Youth and Family Service, including filing of Family Court applications for the removal of children, managing and monitoring the execution and operation of related orders, as well as the investigation of suspected abuse notifications, be performed by specialist units of Sworn Officers within the Youth Aid sections of the police; (b) that all preventative and rehabilitative social work currently performed by CYFS be contracted out to approved community agencies; and (c) that CYFS become an agency that encourages the strengthening of families, including the funding of community agencies, monitoring the standards of social work provided by these agencies, conducting research and ofering policy advice to government.
Download
Petition no.2 here in Word.doc Format
Petition to Open the Family Court
(Draft Only)
That in order to correct the inequality of justice and lack of accountability that currently exists in the Family Court, this court become open to the public and the media except that the presiding Judge may remove any of the public or media from all or part of the hearing following a reasonable application from any party to the hearing, and the decision of the Judge be open to review by the High Court. Panic Home | Mission Statement | Key Issues | Contacts | Forum |