Best interests of children and young people paramount consideration
8 Best interests of children and young people paramount consideration
In making a decision under this Act in relation to a particular child or young person, the decision-maker must regard the best interests of the child or young person as the paramount consideration.
In making a decision under this Act otherwise than in relation to a particular child or young person, the decision-maker must consider the best interests of children and young people.
For the criminal matters chapters (see s 91), there are further provisions about how a decision-maker decides what is in the best interests of a child or young person, see s 94 (Youth justice principles).
For the care and protection chapters (see s 336), there are further provisions about how a decision-maker decides what is in the best interests of a child or young person (see s 349).
To remove any doubt, a reference in any section of this Act to the best interests of a child or young person does not limit this section.
This Act’s bill:Explanatory statementSecond reading speech
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