(d) Regional inequality 73. Consultations by the NCC since 2013 have identified that service delivery, access to new technologies and infrastructure, and access to adequate healthcare, education and housing vary significantly between cities, regional and remote areas. The NCC found that children in regional and remote areas do not enjoy the same opportunity to thrive as other children.51 These findings were also reflected in the Children’s Rights Poll, where a lower proportion of children in regional areas felt they could participate in decisions affecting them at home, online and sport/other out of school activities compared to children living in major cities. 74. Children who lived in remote areas were also more likely to die due to intentional self-harm than by other external causes, compared to children who lived in metropolitan areas.52 Data on hospitalisations for intentional self-harm in children aged 3–17 years in regional and remote areas accounted for 38% of all hospitalisations between 2007–2008 and 2012– 2013.53 75. Further, the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) reported in 2016–2017 that children from very remote areas were four times as likely as those from major cities to be the subject of a substantiation of abuse or neglect after an investigation of an at-risk notification.54 Recommendation 15: The Australian Government addresses inequality experienced by children living in regional and remote Australia through targeted measures. 3.2 Best interests of the child 76. Provisions to consider the best interests of the child are commonly included in Australian legislation relating to children.55 77. For example, it is a key principle in child protection legislation in all jurisdictions across Australia.56 Amendments to the Family Law Act 1975 (Cth) (Family Law Act) in 2012 included an acknowledgement of Australia’s obligations under the CRC. Section 60B(4) of the Family Law Act now provides that an object of Part VII of the Act is to give effect to the CRC. 78. While all jurisdictions recognise the importance of the best interests principle and have policies to guide its implementation,57 its application varies significantly. 14