Oversight of the Office of the Commissioner for Children and Young People
The Commissioner for Children and Young People is an independent statutory authority established under the Commissioner for Children and Young People Act 2006 (the Act). The Act outlines the functions and role of the Commissioner, including reporting and accountabilities.
Under Part 6 of the Act, the Commissioner must prepare an annual report each year, which must include financial information as required by the Financial Management Act 2006. This process provides oversight of the activities of the Commissioner.
Joint Parliamentary Standing Committee
The Joint Parliamentary Standing Committee for the Commissioner for Children and Young People was established under section 51 of the Act. The function of the Committee is to:
- Monitor, review and report to Parliament on the exercise of the functions of the Commissioner for Children and Young People.
- Examine annual and other reports of the Commissioner.
- Consult regularly with the Commissioner.
The Committee provides reports to the Legislative Assembly and the Legislative Council in this regard.
During the 2025-26 financial year, the Committee met with the Commissioner to review the 2024-25 Annual Report and the work of the Commissioner.
Estimates and Financial Operations Committee
Oversight is also provided by the Estimates and Financial Operations Committee, specifically through Budget Estimates Hearings and approval of the budget appropriation to the Commissioner. The Hearings also discuss compliance with the Key Performance Measures determined by Treasury for the Office of the Commissioner for Children and Young People, which are reported in the Annual Report. The Commissioner has again exceeded the Key Performance Indicator targets in 2025-26.
The Commissioner appeared at Estimates Budget Hearings in 2025-26 and responded to all queries raised. The appropriation was approved.