National Human Rights Consultation Submission 

AGWW-7QCD2D 

Name: Claire Linnett 

Submission Text: 

1. All Magistrates, Registrars, and Judges involved with child
 
abuse matters have basic knowledge of the indicators of child abuse.
 

 
2. Children have access to help from police and Docs at any time they
 
require it. Police refused to speak with my child saying the investigation
 
was closed. Docs also refused. This meant there was no legal means of
 
protecting him.
 

 
3. If a child mades a disclosure of sexual abuse to police officers they
 
should be placed in protective care while the matter is dealth with,
 
irrespective of whether there are recovery orders in place.
 

 
4. Evidence at Trial should be heard from people who have met the child.
 

 
5. If reports before the court have been ammended, the original writer
 
should acknowledge that they have been ammended. Reports from Contact
 
centres should be written by people with direct and regular experience of
 
working with the child.
 

 
6. It should be possible to lodge second and further appeals based on
 
errors of fact.
 

 
7. All Docs interviews should be taped, and mandates of government agencies
 
published on the internet.
 

 
8. Independent Child Lawyers should be dispensed with. Courts do look
 
objectivly at sexual abuse cases, but rely on the opinions of the ICL.
 
Legal aid should be available to both parents subject to means tests.
 

 
9. Police officers interviewing children should not be wearing guns during
 
the interviews.
 

 
10. Children involved sexual abuse cases should undergo complete
 
psychological assessment early in the proceedings. If reccomended by
 
psychologist the child should have ongoing counsilling. 
Page 1 of 1