• Legislation

Industrial Schools Act Amendment Act 1882, Western Australia

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The Industrial Schools Act Amendment Act 1882 (1882/020) added the Rottnest Island Reformatory to the schedule of institutions governed by the Industrial Schools Act 1874. Both Acts were repealed by the State Children Act 1907.

The Industrial Schools Act Amendment Act 1882 amended the Industrial Schools Act 1874 by adding the Rottnest Island Reformatory to the schedule of institutions governed by the principal Act.

The reasons for this were given by the Attorney General, the Hon. AC Onslow (Hansard, 11 September 1882, pp.336-337): The Industrial Schools Act 1874 gave managers of certified institutions (such as orphanages) the power to refuse to admit juvenile offenders. While the Attorney could understand the ‘obvious reasons’ why ‘directors of these charitable institutions were often unwilling to accept these black sheep within their fold’ the Government believed that the colony needed a reformatory that could not refuse to admit them. It was on this basis and because ‘it appeared to the Government that no place would answer this purpose better’ that the amendments established the Rottnest Island facility as a reformatory under the Act.

The Industrial Schools Act Amendment Act 1882 was repealed by the State Children Act 1907.

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