30Functions of Secretary

30 Functions of Secretary

30 Functions of Secretary

(1) The Secretary’s functions include co-operating with central authorities of Convention countries—

(a) to find solutions for the protection of particular children, and

(b) to help in the implementation of New South Wales measures, foreign measures and measures of non-Convention countries directed to protecting children or their property, and

(c) to consider taking, or applying for, a New South Wales measure relating to a child—

(i) at the request of a competent authority of another country if the measure is a New South Wales personal protection measure, or

(ii) at the request, or at the invitation, of a competent authority of another country if the measure is a New South Wales property protection measure, and

(d) to exchange information, subject to appropriate confidentiality provisions, and

(e) to provide information on laws and services, and

(f) to help in locating children, and

(g) to provide reports on the situation of particular children, and

(h) to apply to New South Wales courts for orders in response to requests from competent authorities in Convention countries—

(i) to transfer or receive jurisdiction, or

(ii) to take measures directed to protecting the person of a child.

(2) If a competent authority of a Convention country consults with the Secretary for the purpose of obtaining the Department’s consent to placing a child with an authorised carer, or in the care of the principal officer of a designated agency as an authorised carer, in New South Wales, the Department must take into account the child’s best interests in deciding whether or not to consent.

(3) Subsection (1) is subject to section 35 (2).