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SA Best MP Connie Bonaros lashes state government in fiery debate over child safety laws

An MP has questioned whether animals are better protected under SA laws than children in heated debate in parliament.

MP Connie Bonaros: Picture: NCA NewsWire / David Mariuz
MP Connie Bonaros: Picture: NCA NewsWire / David Mariuz

The state government has been accused of doing less for children in its proposed child safety laws than it has done for animals in recently strengthened animal welfare legislation.

The accusation came amid heated debate on the Children and Young People (Safety and Support) Bill which covers every child in South Australia, from those at risk of harm in their homes to those already living in state care.

The government faces strong opposition from members of parliament and children’s advocates to several key points in the contentious legislation, but Child Protection Minister Katrine Hildyard has declared she will not “compromise” on children’s safety.

During debate in parliament’s upper house on Thursday, SA Best MLC Connie Bonaros said animal welfare laws passed through parliament this week created stronger safeguards for animals than the government’s child protection laws did for children.

“I stand by this: the government’s Animal Welfare Bill, honestly, in my view, did more to protect animals than we are doing to protect kids in this state,” Ms Bonaros said.

“We all love our animals but, by God, we are talking about kids in our state, and we cannot offer them the same level of support and security and certainty that they need for a good future. I cannot wrap my head around that notion.”

Ms Bonaros was referring to the Animal Welfare Bill which was given approval by MPs this week.

It updated the original 1985 legislation following a review launched by the state government.

A government website explaining the review states: “The proposed changes to penalties would see South Australia equal with the strongest in the nation”.

The new child protection laws, which are an update on legislation passed in 2017, will set new guidelines for social workers who are making decisions about vulnerable families, including whether to remove a child from their parents.

The government wants the top priority to be ensuring children “are safe and protected from harm”, but has faced pressure to broaden this to the “best interests” of a child.

This would include the desires of the child, their social and emotional wellbeing and the benefits of remaining connected with family.

The government has faced calls for the change from two children’s commissioners, the guardian for children in care and a string of welfare and legal organisations.

In parliament Ms Bonaros was joined by independent, Greens and One Nation MPs in insisting the laws be changed to focus on a child’s “best interests”.

On Thursday The Advertiser revealed Ms Hildyard is refusing to “compromise”, saying she will “not back away at all” from keeping safety as the top priority.

“That is the right thing to do,” she said.

“The flippant reference to the Animal Welfare Act was an unhelpful contribution that does not serve the interests of children and young people, their families and carers, and the thousands of workers across the system that are going above and beyond for South Australia’s most vulnerable people every single day.

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Original URL: https://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/south-australia/sa-best-mp-connie-bonaros-lashes-state-government-in-fiery-debate-over-child-safety-laws/news-story/3620d620af706da353c12c00a2a068ed