(1A) The
care application must be made within 3 working days after the day (the
"relevant day" ) on which the removal or assumption of care responsibility
occurs. If this would permit the care application to be made more than 5 days
after the relevant day, the application must instead be made no later than on
the fifth day after the relevant day or (if the fifth day is not a
working day) no later than the first working day after that fifth day. A
"working day" is any day that is not a Saturday, Sunday or public holiday.
(2) On the hearing of the application, the Secretary must explain to the
Children's Court why the removal of the child or young person without a
warrant was considered to be necessary.
(3) Despite subsection (1), the
Secretary is not required to apply for any order of the Children's Court if
the Secretary considers that no order is necessary, but the Secretary must
explain to the Children's Court at the first available opportunity why no
care application was made.
(4) Sections 61, 64, 67, 68, 70 and 90A apply to
an application for an emergency care and protection order. The other
provisions of Part 2 do not apply to such an order.
Note : This section holds
the Secretary accountable for the serious decision to remove a child or
young person from his or her family suddenly.
If the Children's Court considers that the removal of the child or
young person was not warranted in terms of the Act, or was conducted in an
inappropriate manner, adverse comment could be made in court or other steps
taken to draw the matter to the attention of the Minister. However, the making
of an order should not be refused, or the child or young person discharged
from the care responsibility of the Secretary, only because of the
inappropriate manner of the removal. The paramount issue for the Children's
Court is the safety of the child or young person and not the procedural
failures of those with the statutory responsibility for the protection of
children and young persons.
In the case of removal pursuant to a warrant issued by an authorised officer
under section 233, the authorised officer who issues the warrant should first
consider whether the child or young person could be adequately protected if an
apprehended violence order were sought which might provide for the removal of
the alleged perpetrator. The matter should be brought before the Children's
Court at the first available opportunity and an emergency care and protection
order sought if further protection is necessary.