Page 1444 - Week 05 - Thursday, 13 May 2021

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Economic Equality. Pursuant to standing order 216, the Committee recently resolved to inquire into the future of the working week—in particular, what a four-day work week would look like and whether it is the future of work. Accordingly, the terms of reference for the committee’s inquiry are:

To inquire into and report, on:

(a) defining and configuring the concept of a four-day work week;

(b) the advantages of a four-day work week;

(d) options, issues and challenges for transition to and implementation of a four-day work week across different sectors and industries;

(e) considerations of implementing the four-day work week in the context of enterprise bargaining and current industrial law considerations;

(f) how the four-day work week compares with flexible work arrangements or other alternative working arrangements;

(g) best practice four-day work week policy approaches and responses being undertaken in other jurisdictions; and

(h) any other related matters.

To assist submitters, the committee will be releasing a discussion paper in mid-June 2021 to coincide with its call for public submissions. The committee will therefore call for submissions to its inquiry shortly and is intending to commence holding public hearings in the second quarter of the 2021–22 financial year.

Domestic Animals Legislation Amendment Bill 2021

Debate resumed from 31 March 2021, on motion by Mr Steel:

That this bill be agreed to in principle.

MS LAWDER (Brindabella) (11.31): I am pleased to speak briefly on the Domestic Animals Legislation Amendment Bill 2021. The changes to the domestic animals legislation introduces the requirement for dog owners to register their dogs annually in the ACT. Under the proposal, owners will receive an email, an SMS or a letter in the mail at least 14 days prior to their dogs’ registration ending and owners must comply with the notice within 28 days. If they do not, there is a possible cancellation of their dogs’ registration or a fine if they have not complied with registering their dogs annually.

The fines seem a little excessive but I understand the reasons we are reverting to an annual registration. It was some years ago that we moved to lifetime registration and some of the issues that have come with that have come to light over time. We are moving to a new digital dog database, and I am a little concerned about the extra work for our public servants. There is no additional fee, which is a good thing, but that means that the work must be absorbed into the current work of the public service.

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