The Minister for Community Services received advice from the Victoria Child Protection Council about appropriate methods for dealing with child abuse. These methods included those under the Child and Young Persons Act which states suitable protection required for an abused child, intervention orders if required and other supervised orders and legal implications for the victim and family. A public opinion poll about Child Abuse also investigated the benefits that mandatory reporting could provide and what the community's attitude towards law implications for child abuse were. There were many opposed to the introduction with arguments that it would create a greater issue of the abusive problem than required. The Brotherhood of St Lawrence and The Royal Children's Hospital were strong supporters of this argument. Those against obligatory reporting were out-weighed by those supporting it. .
Many opinions towards Mandatory reporting arose, both positive and negative. The distinction between the for's and against were great. Arguments against mandatory reporting included children not confident informing a professional person about the abuse, compulsory reporting does not imply that the abuse will stop and may lead to further abuse, false allegations could be made. The question asked by many was "what evidence is there that mandatory reporting is effective?". A suitable amount of evidence from other states actively following mandatory reporting have demonstrated the beneficially impact it has on children victims. But what other options are available for victims of child abuse, when many members of society ignore a child's cry for help? .
If an abused child cannot find someone to listen to their problem many dangerous consequences could take place. The child could continually be abused, suffer serious physiological problems or depression which could result in causing injury to themselves or suicide, express violent or verbal acts to others around or run away from home.
