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Vic Govt amends Child Employment Bill
17 Sep 2003
The Victorian Government has backed down on one aspect of its Child Employment Bill following a massive outcry from farmers and small family-run businesses. Farmers won't have to undergo police checks when allowing their grandchildren, siblings, nieces or nephews aged 15 or under to help out on the farm - but they'll still have to get work permits.
Opposition Liberal agriculture spokesman Philip Davis said the Government should take the amendments further and exclude members of a child's extended family from having to gain a permit. Mr Davis said the Opposition would be introducing amendments this week on that issue, and also to exclude the farming sector from the Bill.
The Victorian Farmers' Federation urged the Government to extend the exclusion clauses, saying the VFF doesn't see the need for permits for grandparents and other family members. The Government has argued it's a farm safety issue, but it's got nothing to do with that, president Paul Weller said. The VFF also said the Bill's definition of what constitutes "work" is unclear.
Weekly Times, 17/9/03, page 5.
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