The Torres Strait Islander Act 1939 with the full title “An Act to Make Provision for the Government of the Native Inhabitants of the Islands of Torres Strait and their Descendants, and for other purposes” (Act no. 3 Geo. VI No.7) authorised the Director of Native Affairs to remove from any reserve to another reserve…
The Adoption of Children Act 1964 (Act no. 54/1964) commenced on 1 August 1965. It repealed the earlier adoption acts in Queensland. This legislation was passed in response to the Commonwealth government’s push for model legislation to harmonise adoption law in Australia. This act has the full title “An Act to Consolidate and Amend the…
The Guardianship and Custody of Infants Act – with the full title “An Act to Amend the Law as to the Guardianship and Custody of Infants” 1891 (Act no. 55 Vic. No.13) – made provision, on the death of the father, for the mother of a child to become his/her guardian, alone or jointly with…
The Children’s Protection Act 1896 with the full title – “An Act to Provide for the Protection of Children” (Act no. 60 Vic. No. 26) – applied to boys under 14 years of age and girls under 16 years of age. It was an offence to ‘ill treat, neglect, abandon or expose a child’ in…
The Adoption of Children Act 1935 (Act no. 26 Geo.V. No.7) with the full title “An Act to Make Provision for the Adoption of Infants, and for purposes incidental thereto or consequent thereon” commenced on 1 February 1936. It provided for the adoption of children up to the age of 21 years who had never…
The Infant Life Protection Act, with the full title “An Act to Make Better Provision for the Protection of Infant Life, and for other purposes” (Act no.5 Edw.VII No.19) arranged for the registration of nursing homes for children under 3 years of age, the reporting of the births and deaths of illegitimate children and for…
The Children’s Court Act 1907, with the full title “An Act to Provide for the Creation of Courts for the Trial of Children” (Act no. 7 Edw.VII No.3) formed a special court of petty sessions specifically called a Children’s Court, where charges were to be heard in camera for children under 17 years. This act…
The Children’s Services Act 1965 was designed ‘to promote and protect the wellbeing of the children and youth of the State through a comprehensive and co-ordinated program of child and family welfare’. The focus was on the protection of children from neglectful acts and behaviour by parents, and protection from unacceptable living conditions. This act…
The Child Protection Act 1999 had the full title “An Act about the protection of children, and for other purposes” (Act no.10/1999). Development of the Child Protection Act 1999 began in 1993 with the release of the Child Protection Issues Paper and an extensive statewide consultation process. The development process culminated in passage of the…
The State Children Act 1911, with the full title “An Act to Consolidate and Amend the Law relating to State Children” (Act no.2 Geo.V. No.11) provided for the care of children younger than 13 years of age and established the State Children Department with a director to replace the inspector of orphanages. This act is…