More Queenslanders will need a blue card to continue working in their current jobs from this weekend.
Changes to Queensland’s Working With Children legislation comes into effect on September 20, expanding the occupations where people will require to hold a blue card, because they work closely with children.
State Attorney-General Deb Frecklington said new laws would help protect the most vulnerable Queenslanders, with changes also made to deliver stronger safeguards for victims of sexual violence.
Attorney-General Frecklington said the key reforms, which come into effect on Saturday, included:
- Requiring more people working in child-related roles to hold a blue card, including those in entertainment and amusement park industries, sports, churches and clubs, educational services and the legal profession.
- Setting consistent rules for parent volunteers.
- Introducing new self-disclosure requirements.
- Establishing a simpler disqualification framework.
- Introducing a new suspension power to allow blue card to take immediate action when notified of a risk to the safety of children.
- Strengthening compliance powers and ensuring decision-making is more responsive to risk.
“Parents want absolute confidence that everything possible is being done to keep their children safe when they drop them at sports clubs, birthday parties, or amusement parks,” she said.
“These reforms mean that some people who were previously exempt may now be required to hold a blue card, but we make no apologies for doing whatever it takes to protect our kids.”
Attorney-General Frecklington said a new “position of authority” criminal offence was also coming into effect which would provide stronger protections for children aged 16 or 17 from sexual interactions with adults who have them under their care, supervision, or authority.
“The offence aims to capture and deter adults in a position of authority who abuse their position of power or influence to commit sexual acts.
“It will protect young people over the age of consent but still under 18 years.”
She said offenders convicted of this offence would face a maximum penalty of 14 years’ imprisonment.
