CW v Chief Executive, Public Safety Business Agency [2015] QCAT 219
CITATION: CW v Chief Executive, Public Safety Business
Agency [2015] QCAT 219
PARTIES: CW
(Applicant)
v
Chief Executive, Public Safety Business Agency
(Respondent)
APPLICATION NUMBER: CML021-15
MATTER TYPE: Childrens matters
HEARING DATE: 28 April 2015
HEARD AT: Brisbane
DECISION OF: Member Rogers
DELIVERED ON: 16 June 2015
DELIVERED AT: Brisbane
ORDERS MADE: 1. The decision of the Chief Executive to
issue Mr CW a negative notice is
confirmed.
2. The Tribunal prohibits the publication of
material held on the Tribunal file and the
names of the applicant and family
members and witnesses in the decision
relating to the application number
CML021-15.
CATCHWORDS: CHILDREN’S MATTERS - Blue Card
application—where recent offences- whether
change in behaviour demonstrated- whether
offences relate to harm to children -whether
exceptional case exists
APPEARANCES:
APPLICANT: CW
RESPONDENT: Chief Executive, Public Safety Business Agency
REPRESENTATIVES:
APPLICANT: represented by Dr Berry Zondag, Junkuri Laka
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Community Legal Centre
RESPONDENT: represented by Mr Peter Reid, Advocacy Officer
REASONS FOR DECISION
[1] Mr CW saw some children playing at the river when they should have
been at school and thought he should have a go at getting them to school.
He approached the Principal of the local school and became one of a
number of people employed through a Community Employment
Development Programme to address the serious issue of children failing to
attend school. He applied for a blue card and on 17 December 2014 the
Chief Executive issued a Mr CW a negative notice. He applied to this
tribunal seeking a review of that decision on 30 January 2015.
[2] In his application Mr CW’s representative submitted
‘the officer failed to properly take into account the cultural and community
context, which would place Mr CW in a precarious position to obtain a blue
card by reason only of him being an aboriginal man. The officer failed to
take into account Mr CW’s positive contribution to his community’
The relevant law
[3] Assessment for eligibility for a blue card is carried out under the provisions
of the Working with Children (Risk Management and Screening) Act 2000
(Qld). The principles for administering the Act, set out in s 6, are that the
welfare and best interests of a child are paramount and that every child is
entitled to be cared for in a way that protects the child from harm and
promotes the child’s wellbeing. Section 360 restates that principle for the
purposes of reviewing a child-related employment decision.
[4] Where an applicant has been convicted of an offence, other than a
disqualifying or serious offence as defined in the Act, a positive notice
must issue unless it is an exceptional case such that it would not be in the
best interests of children for the applicant to be issued with a positive
notice.1
[5] The Act does not define an ‘exceptional case’ It has been frequently
commented that what constitutes an exceptional case is a matter of
discretion. It is a question of fact and degree. 2 This means the
circumstances of each individual case must be explored within the
framework imposed by the principles of the Act to determine whether an
exceptional case exists. S 226 of the Act sets out the factors that must be
1 Working with Children (Risk Management and Screening) Act 2000 (Qld) s 221.
2 Commissioner for Children and Young People and Child Guardian v Maher & Anor
[2004] QCA492 at paragraph 34.
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considered when making the determination however it does not confine
consideration to those matters.3
[6] Any hardship or prejudice suffered by an applicant as the result of a
refusal to issue a positive notice is irrelevant to this consideration.4
[7] The purpose of a review is to produce the correct and preferable decision
and the tribunal must hear and decide a review of a reviewable decision
by way of a fresh hearing on the merits.5
[8] It is not necessary to show a mistake of fact or law on the part of the
original decision maker when bringing an application for review. Neither
party bears an onus of proof. Once an application is before the tribunal the
reviewable decision carries no evidentiary or legal weight.
[9] Mr CW has not been convicted of a serious or disqualifying offence, as
those terms are used in the Act, and therefore he must be issued a
positive notice unless an exceptional case exists.
Background
[10] Mr CW provided his life story to the tribunal and later enlarged on its
contents in his oral evidence. He was born in 1955. Both his parents
identify as local community people. They worked on cattle stations and
when he was ten or eleven years Mr CW went to a mission school fulltime.
He describes severe physical abuse which ‘taught me that violence and
beatings are the final answer to any question and they made it hard for me
to look at white people with respect’.
[11] He went to a State High School, which he says was much better, and
completed Year 10. He left school to work in the cattle industry as a ringer
on large stations.
[12] In 1976 he married his wife Mrs CW and says ’She is the best thing that
has happened to me and we are still together after all these years.’ They
have four children, 12 grandchildren and 2 great grandchildren. He is
deeply involved with his grandchildren. Some of his children have had
troubles and have children subject to a care and protection. Some of those
grandchildren live with Mr CW and his wife at different times. He gets on
well with the officers from Child Safety who visit his house to see the
children and they have no concerns about his ability to care for them.
[13] In 1983 Mr CW completed a diploma in community welfare at Brisbane
TAFE. He was politically active and participated in protests and marches
for indigenous rights. In 1986 he was elected as the mayor of the local
community, the youngest person to hold that position. It was not paid so
he started to work in the building trades. He was mayor 1986-1992, a
3 Ibid at paragraph 42.
4 Chief Executive Officer, Department of Child Protection v Scott (No 2) WASCA 171 at
23.
5 Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal Act 2009 (Qld) s 20.
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further period from 1998 and then 2006-2007. By 2008 he was working as
a mentor/trainer for young men in the building and road construction
industry and in 2013 he started working at the local school.
[14] Mr CW states he drank heavily from 1975 to 1992, when he gave it up. He
got involved with marijuana when he was 40 years of age because alcohol
wasn’t fixing things, so he tried something else. He did use gunja heavily
for a period ‘for dinner, breakfast and supper’ until he decided to give it up.
He described how he took himself off both drugs and alcohol. On each
occasion he went by himself into the bush, and went cold turkey. With
alcohol it was for three months and for the gunja it took five months before
he could come back to town. He said the way he gave it up made it hard
for him to go back on it. He did not seek professional help or counselling.
That was about ten years ago.
[15] Mr CW said he is not tempted to return to these substances. He had a
heart attack in 2011. He goes to church now and finds the answers he
needs in the bible. It teaches love not abuse and hatred, which he
experienced at the mission school. He used substances because of what
he had been through but he has learnt from his past mistakes and he can
now sit in a room without getting angry. He says ‘I have no mental health
issues other that the frustration and anger that was beaten into me by the
Missionaries...This affects me to this day.’
[16] He acknowledged his lengthy criminal history but says the past is in the
past. Mr CW says he does not try to minimise his responsibilities or
culpability for what he has done. He acknowledges he has had issues
dealing with frustration and anger and that this problem reached its peak
when he was of a mature age. However he says he has grown out of this
and has other ways of dealing with his past now.
[17] He did continue to offend after he gave up drugs and alcohol and says
that was the result of his training in the mission school. He was brought up
thinking the only way to fix a problem was with violence. He says these
days he is more likely to try to sit down and talk about the problem and
use mediation. He tries to keep out of conflict and not get involved.
[18] He says the recent offending on January 2014 occurred against a
background of family feuds. It started as a trivial matter between two
brothers. It escalated and other members of the extended family became
involved. It has now been going on for many years and few people
remember what it was about. He says there is not just one person who
starts an argument, it involves everyone. At the time of the offence a
group of 50 or 60 people with rocks and bars came into his mother’s yard.
He had to defend her. He said he was not going out to talk to them without
something in his hand so he picked up his boomerang and this resulted in
a conviction for ‘going armed so as to cause fear’.
[19] The Chief Executive has identified two offences specifically relating to
children on Mr CW’s criminal history. The first, in 2001 concerns a girl 16
years old and he cannot remember that incident. The second was the
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January 2014 incident where he struck a young man of unknown age with
his boomerang. Mr CW says the man was about 19 years of age and not a
child.
[20] When asked to comment on the charges of assaulting police as recently
as 2012 Mr CW says someone has to stand up to them but if you do you
get victimised. He says people need someone to show them the right way.
You don’t want them to grow up thinking the white man is their boss. He
said he has no intention of hurting children and he no longer uses
weapons, he relies on his tongue.
[21] Mr CW says he is proud of what he has achieved in the community.
[22] The school attendance rates improved when he was involved. He has
arranged for 13-14 children to go to boarding school so they can complete
their education. He is respected as a leader and preacher in the church.
He teaches children at Sunday school. People come to talk to him. They
are always welcome at his home and he never shuts the door on them. He
can understand his past actions but he has more friends than enemies
now.
Witnesses
[23] A is the Regional Manager of My Pathway. He has known Mr CW for 14
years and said, as a public servant, he has had to say things to Mr CW he
did not want to hear. He says Mr CW can be forceful and assertive when
he is a passionate about the community and when he feels the
government of the day does not show respect, but he has not felt
threatened or intimidated by him. He has seen him with children and
observed them show him respect and listen to what he says. He has not
seen him become agitated since his health scare in 2011.
[24] B was the Principal of the local school in 2014. He saw Mr CW on a daily
basis and said he offered a unique perspective and skillset. Because he
was well known, a grandfather and is involved with the local church he
was able to influence parents in a way a school principal could not. He
was a member of a team responsible for increasing school attendance
rates. He would drive around and pick the children up and take them to
school. He has a protective nature and is a strong advocate for students
and across the community. There was no conflict in the workplace. He is a
suitable person to work with children in the community.
[25] C works at a local centre and runs a child protection programme. She says
she has known Mr CW her whole life. He was always at the front line,
strong and outspoken. She has seen a whole different side of him in his
work as a mentor of kids in school. He is respectful and uses different
strategies. She said it was not common for men to seek help from a
mental health professional. There were other ways to deal with withdrawal
from drugs and alcohol such as going up country. She has no concerns
about Mr CW and is prepared to recommend him as a positive role model
to work with children.
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[26] D is a local person with community responsibilities. He was introduced to
Mr CW by his father and now makes it a point to visit him when he is in the
area because he actively pursues the interests of the community. When
he first met him he was more radical, a political activist. He is not as
aggressive in the past few years. He has seen Mr CW affected by drugs
and alcohol about 15-20 years ago, maybe drugs more recently. He is
aware of Mr CW’s criminal record and he has seen people reform before.
He says what stands out here is the level of reform. He has spoken to
others about Mr CW. He says when police and school and people in the
community are telling you he was doing a good job the rejection of the
blue card would be a bad outcome. He said one way to turn around the
current situation is by self-empowerment and you need someone from that
background to work in the community for that to happen. He feels the blue
card system is failing and needs adjustment. It keeps getting in the road. It
has to be accepted there is violence in communities and some leniency
needs to be shown. People who stand up in communities should be
allowed to go on from their activist stage.
[27] E has known Mr CW for 38 years. She works with a community centre. It
is located on the school ground but is not part of the school. It supports
families with financial issues, helps with family intervention, conducts a
playgroup and provides facilities such as phones and computers. She also
conducts cultural awareness inductions. She says violence in the
community with children present is wrong and she does not condone it,
however people can be rehabilitated. She states Mr CW is an excellent
person for the school, he is a good leader in the community. The children
view him as an elder and would go up to him in the playground. He is well
respected.
[28] Dr H did not give evidence but he provided a report dated 8 April 2015. He
met with Mr CW once. He set out what Mr CW told him and addressed
some specific questions. He opined Mr CW had good insight into the
impact of his behaviour on children, he talks of children as the future and
wishes to do them well. He said Mr CW recognises triggers or risk factors
and supports this by saying he has given up alcohol and drugs and
attends church. The continuation of his present behaviour causes no
concerns and the continuation of his present lifestyle and values are
preventative strategies to minimise any risk. Mr CW’s family and prior
working with children justify confidence in his low risk. There was
discussion at the hearing about whether Dr H had the Statement of
Reasons and an opportunity to read it. He did not refer to it in his report.
Criminal History
[29] Mr CW has an extensive criminal history with charges and convictions
starting in 1974 when he was 19 and continuing to the present time. The
convictions include
a) Assault offences including; occasioning bodily harm, serious assault,
unlawful assaults, common assaults, assaults against a police officer
and obstructing a police officer.
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b) Weapons offences including; armed in public in a manner to cause
fear, carrying weapons through a screening point, discharging a
weapon on private land without the owners consent and unlawful
possessions of weapons category A, B or M.
c) Drug offences including; possessing dangerous drugs, producing
dangerous drugs and possessing utensils or pipes.
d) Various other convictions including; public nuisance offences, using a
carriage service to make a threat to kill and killing an animal with
intent to steal.
[30] There are also charges for threatening violence, assaults occasioning
bodily harm whilst armed/in company and supplying dangerous drugs on
which no evidence was offered.
[31] He is currently facing further charges in the Magistrate’s Court, namely
discharge of a weapon on private land without the owner’s consent, killing
an animal with intent to steal and unlawful possession of a weapon
category A/B/M. These charges had not been dealt with at the time of the
hearing. Mr CW indicated he intended to plead not guilty because he
found an animal down by the road with a broken leg and put him out of his
misery.
Chief Executive’s submissions
[32] The Chief Executive submits Mr CW
a) Has an extensive criminal history with many offences of violence
where he was not a personal risk.
b) He has not sought the assistance of a psychologist to address anger
management issues and the tribunal cannot be satisfied he will not
resort to violence or other criminal behaviours.
c) He has minimised the risk of his behaviours. He started using
cannabis 1995 with the most recent drug related offences at the end
of 2009 but he said he only used drugs for a few years. In the 2009
offence 20 foils of cannabis were found. It is submitted these were
intended for distribution and when the drugs went from him to
another person they could have fallen into the hands of children.
d) He went cold turkey on both drugs and alcohol. He has not sought
assistance and therefore remains at risk. He did have access to
ATODs programmes but did not choose to attend.
e) None of the court orders imposed deterred him from future
reoffending because he did not identify the triggers to his anger
management issues and therefore remains at risk.
f) He is a mature man who has had ongoing issues with authority
figures. He has armed himself with weapons including traditional
aboriginal weapons and has ready access to firearms.
g) He assaulted a child aged 16 years in 2001.
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h) In 2012 there were offences of violence with children in the vicinity.
i) In the January 2014 offence the age of the complainant is unclear
with suggestions he was 15-16 years. Mr CW says he was 19 years.
j) While he expresses remorse for his past he fails to acknowledge the
recent offences which indicate he is prepared to take matters into his
own hands.
[33] The Chief Executive further submitted the report of Dr H should be given
limited weight. He spoke only once with Mr CW and he did not give
consideration to the criminal history. In considering the views of D it was
submitted the place for changing legislation is the legislature, not the
tribunal.
[34] Mr CW was between the ages of 41 and 58 at the time of the offences of
concern. This raises a particular concern that he understood the criminality
of his behaviour in relation to the offending. His history is relevant to
regulated child related employment.
[35] The benefit to the community is not a consideration. Children rely on
adults to keep them safe. The adults need to be positive role models.
Mr CW’s submissions
[36] Mr CW’s representative submitted the threshold must be high for a blue
card to be refused. It must be an exceptional case. The harm must be
significant and it is not the role of the tribunal to continue to punish people
for their past offences.
[37] He argued that although Dr H report has little detail it was the correct
approach and should be given appropriate weight.
[38] Mr CW’s life story is a picture of how children were treated in the dormitory
days. It is an experience he shares with many in the community. However
he has insight and a clear focus on the future.
[39] He hasn’t used alcohol since 1992 or drugs since 2009. It was not his way
to see a psychologist instead he chose a culturally relevant way to deal
with his addictions. It was a hard experience and he came out a stronger
man. The value of this experience should not be lessened because it was
not overseen by a health care professional.
[40] Since his serious health scare in 2011 he has to be careful of getting too
upset. He has continued working in the community even though he has
not been able to work at the school. He is now very religious and believes
violence is not the answer. He still believes in standing up for people but in
a reconciliatory rather than an adversarial way.
[41] The Department of Child Safety material does not indicate Mr CW has
harmed a child and says there is a positive and caring interaction between
him and his grandchildren.
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[42] There is objective statistical evidence Mr CW made a difference to school
attendance rates when he was in his role.
[43] The witnesses were members of the community aware of Mr CW’s
transgressions and the work he has done. They were very supportive of
his application to work with children.
[44] It is not against the best interests of children for him to be given a positive
notice and blue card.
Consideration and decision
[45] I find Mr CW has the following protective factors
a) A sincere commitment to contributing to the welfare of children
b) A long and stable relationship with his wife with no reported incidents
of domestic violence
c) He no longer engages in drug or alcohol abuse. He has shown an
awareness of the impact of his abuse and remorse for his past
behaviours
d) His recent health scare has made him more aware of his behaviours
e) He is developing anger management strategies that allow him to deal
with his anger and frustration without resorting to anger and abuse
f) He has the support of many members in the community who are
confident he has changed his ways and will not relapse into drug or
alcohol abuse or violence.
g) His positions in the church and as a respected member of the
community are important to him and he is reluctant to jeopardise
them.
[46] I find the following risk factors remain
a) Mr CW has a long history continuing to recent times of resorting to
physical and verbal abuse. These convictions are not restricted to
occasions when his personal safety is threatened or when he is
under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
b) He has recent convictions of assault/obstruct police officer on
10/4/2012, commit public nuisance on 22/05/2012 and going armed
so as to cause fear on 24/01/2014
c) When he armed himself with a traditional weapon in 2014 he showed
no remorse for that act as he thought it was necessary and
reasonable in the circumstances.
d) He is prepared to take matters into his own hands.
e) He has had extended periods without offending in the past and then
committed further offences.
f) He has been charged with new offences in the past few months.
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[47] The Chief Executive submits that adults need to be good role models for
children, which is part of the obligation to promote their well being, and Mr
CW is not a good role model. I do not accept that it is a requirement of the
legislation that a holder of a blue card be a good role model. This would
create a much higher standard for members of the community who have
committed an offence than for those people without conviction who are
given a blue card on application. It is an embellishment on the language of
the legislation that is not helpful or justified, as the term itself does not
have a precise meaning.
[48] The Chief Executive submits that Mr CW remains at risk of returning to
drug or alcohol abuse because he has not attended counselling to identify
the triggers and avoid a relapse. I do not accept this submission. Mr CW
chose to withdraw from alcohol and later from cannabis use by taking
himself away from the community and dealing with the effects of
withdrawal in his own way. It is his evidence this was so hard the process
itself remains a deterrent to future use. I accept his evidence.
[49] The Chief Executive submits Mr CW has not had counselling to address
anger management issues so the tribunal cannot be satisfied these will
not reoccur, resulting in criminal behaviour.
[50] Mr CW says he has developed strategies. These include giving up drugs
and alcohol, accepting he can’t change what has happened to him, being
prepared to sit down and talk things out, being involved with the men’s
group, participating in his church community and relying on reading his
bible, which says you have to love everyone and that is what he is doing.
While he did say he is open to attending a psychologist at another part of
his evidence Mr CW said he didn’t think he had anger issues because he
went to see a psychiatrist not long ago and he said there was nothing
wrong.
[51] While I agree it may be helpful for him to develop self awareness, I do not
accept that it is a requirement for Mr CW to attend a counsellor. There
may be other ways for him to address his issues, it can be difficult to
access long term treatment in a remote community and it could be
culturally difficult for Mr CW to enter that process. However it appears from
his recent history that Mr CW still has issues with authority and anger and
there is a risk these will continue to result in criminal behaviour.
[52] It is Mr CW’s submission that the past is in the past and his criminal
history should not prevent his obtaining a blue card. This is supported by
D’s evidence that the blue card system is failing communities. The Chief
Executive responded that this is a matter for the legislature.
[53] I have considered five other cases6 relating to indigenous communities.
Three decisions were set aside and two were confirmed. It is clear that
6 AA v Chief Executive Officer, Public Safety Business Agency [2014] QCAT 651;
Loogatha v Commission for Children and Young People and Child Guardian [2011]
QCAT 72; Aruba v Commission for Children and Young People and Child Guardian
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when considering all the evidence the weight to be given to a criminal
record must depend on the nature, number and recency of the offences
themselves. In Mr CW’s case I accept his lengthy criminal history is not of
itself a reason to deny a blue card and I have given little weight to
offences occurring more than five years ago because that is when Mr CW
identified he turned his life around. People can and do change and this
change should be respected.
[54] However the record is useful to identify behaviours that were a problem
and to see if they are still occurring. For example Mr CW has not had any
drug or alcohol related offences since 2009. This evidence supports a
finding that he no longer abuses drugs or alcohol. If there are ongoing
anti-social behaviours that can be evidence that the changes might need
more time to take effect.
[55] I considered the submissions concerning Dr H report. I have given it little
weight because it was complied following a brief consultation, he relied
heavily on Mr CW’s self report and he did not articulate the reasoning that
supported his conclusions.
[56] I must order Mr CW be issued with a positive notice and blue card unless
there is an exceptional case such that it is not in the best interests of
children for him to be given a blue card.
[57] When considering what is the best interests of children in this case I am
guided by the principles of the legislation, which say that every child is
entitled to be cared for in a way that that protects the child from harm and
promotes the child’s wellbeing.
[58] I am satisfied Mr CW ‘promotes the child’s wellbeing.’ Without attempting
to limit or define the phrase I see the legislation as imposing a positive
obligation on carers to contribute to the child’s existence rather than just
provide for an absence of harm. Specifically Mr CW can point to the works
he does to get children to school, his involvement in conflict resolution with
children and their parents and his efforts to get children into boarding
school to satisfy this requirement. He has and continues to make a great
contribution to the community by his interactions with people of all ages
who come to him for assistance and by his ongoing involvement in
developing community resources.
[59] I have considered Mr CW’s criminal record, the evidence of witnesses and
the material from Child Safety and I am satisfied Mr CW, if responsible for
young children, would act in a way that protected them from harm from
others and that he would not intentionally inflict harm on them himself.
[2011] QCAT 468; JAJ v Commission for Children Young People and Child Guardian
[2014] QCAT 351; Fa'Aoso v Commission for Children and Young People and Child
Guardian [2010] QCAT 691.
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[60] However two things continue to concern me. The first is that Mr CW does
not necessarily distinguish between adults and adolescents. This means
older children are at the same risk of harm from Mr CW as are adults so
there is a real risk that if his anger management strategies fail a child
could be harmed.
[61] The second is that Mr CW fails to demonstrate awareness that adult
behaviours can cause harm to children even though they are not directed
towards children. Steps must be taken to protect children from that harm.
[62] I refer to the following examples;
a) In September 2009 he became involved in an incident when police
were trying to separate two girls engaged in a fight. He was charged
with multiple charges, including serious assault, and was convicted
and sentenced to imprisonment for six months.
b) In May 2012 Mr CW was involved in a serious confrontation in a
public place. It is alleged he yelled abuse and threatened to kill
people. He was charged with common assault but no evidence was
offered. He was convicted of public nuisance and fined $600.
c) In January 2014 he was involved in a mass fight resulting from family
feuding. He was convicted of going armed so as to cause fear and
fined $1500.
[63] When speaking to an officer of Blue Card Services on 28 July 2014 Mr
CW said he has been a different person for four years. While the 2009
incident occurred before Mr CW took steps to change his behaviours, the
2012 and 2014 events took place during that timeframe.
[64] These events all occurred when children were in the vicinity and would
have witnessed the confrontation. These behaviours harm children
because they indicate to children it is acceptable to deal with conflict in
this way. This is especially the case when the behaviour is by someone
who is known to them and is considered a leader in the community.
[65] There is no evidence Mr CW was under the influence of drugs or alcohol
on any of these occasions and therefore it can’t be argued they resulted
from behaviours he has ceased. If they relate to anger management
issues, though that is not clear, they would demonstrate that the strategies
Mr CW has developed failed him on these occasions.
[66] I cannot be satisfied that Mr CW will not become involved in public
disturbances in the future if he forms the view it is necessary for him to do
so. If this occurs he could harm a child by direct contact or by engaging in
behaviours that are harmful for them to witness.
[67] Further, it was commented in evidence that in a small community people
are aware of who is appearing in court. It can be harmful for children to
become aware people they respect don’t obey the law because it can
create confusion for them as they try to develop a sense of right and
wrong. This issue is magnified in remote communities attempting to
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discourage anti-social behaviours where an awareness of repeat offending
can normalise the behaviours.
[68] Mr CW is facing charges still before the court. He must be considered
innocent of these charges until convicted, however s 226 requires me to
consider charges as well as convictions. These charges are similar to
previous convictions in 2011 resulting from events in 2009. If he is
convicted that would suggest Mr CW has not modified his behaviour and
is prepared to continue with criminal conduct, which would give rise to the
risk I have previously identified. This is an example of adult behaviour that
might have an adverse impact on children.
[69] I acknowledge the changes Mr CW has made to his behaviours, his
genuine commitment to children, his desire to work closely with them and
the support he has in the community. I accept the need for the community
to have respected adults involved in the development of children.
[70] Denying Mr CW a blue card will not necessarily impact on his future
behaviour but children will be less affected by his behaviour if he is not a
person working at the school and held out to them as a leader and person
to be respected.
[71] The focus of a blue card decision must be on children. I have considered
the circumstances of Mr CW’s 2012 and 2014 convictions, insufficient time
elapsing to be satisfied he will not continue to engage in violent
confrontations, the possibility that children could suffer physical harm if a
confrontation occurs, the pending charges, and the position of influence
over children employment in the school would give him.
[72] I have decided this is an exceptional case such that it would not be in the
interests of children for a blue card to issue to Mr CW at this time.
I order the decision of the Chief Executive to issue a negative notice be
confirmed.
Non-publication order
[73] I have formed the view a non-publication order is appropriate in this
matter. Non-publication orders can only be made in specific situations. In
this case the publication of information could lead to the identification of
children who have been the subject of an investigation under the Child
Protection Act 1999 (Qld). Publication of the information is prohibited by s
189 of that Act. This order includes material held on the Tribunal file and
the names of the applicant and family members.
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Official source: https://www.sclqld.org.au/caselaw/QCAT/2015/219