Submission in Response to the Care and Protection of Children Legislation Amendment (Every Child Matters) Bill 2026 (NT)

Summary

This submission is made in response to the Care and Protection of Children Legislation Amendment (Every Child Matters) Bill 2026 (NT) (the Bill), introduced to the Legislative Assembly of the Northern Territory (NT or Territory) by Ms Cahill on 13 May 2026. It is made jointly by the undersigned, who represent a range of academic institutions and Indigenous practitioners. The signatories to this submission bring expertise spanning child protection, Aboriginal community services, disability, domestic and family violence, legal services, and remote service delivery.

Recommendations

Recommendation 1: Abandon the Bill

The Bill should be withdrawn from the Legislative Assembly immediately and not reintroduced in its current or substantially similar form.

Recommendation 2: Commit to genuine, resourced co-design

Any future reform of the NT care and protection framework must be developed through a genuine, adequately resourced and properly timed co-design process, led by Aboriginal communities and Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations (ACCOs), and informed by the voices of children and young people with lived experience of the child protection system. Consultation must precede drafting, not follow it. A minimum of three months for community submissions on any draft legislation should be provided as a baseline, with additional time where communities request it.