Page 2625 - Week 08 - Wednesday, 21 September 2022
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This bill also addresses the Litter Act 2004 by making technical corrections to a range of offences. Firstly, the wording for exemptions to the depositing of waste at dedicated waste management facilities will be clarified to ensure that it is clear that this must be done in accordance with the facilities’ procedures. Secondly, the wording relating to securing loads on vehicles will be clarified so that both offences specify that a vehicle load, or any part of it, must be secured.
These changes align closely with the overarching policy intent of the legislation and with the existing operations and procedures of city rangers in enforcing our litter and illegal dumping legislation. It is important to note that this will not impact on current operations; rather, these amendments meet existing expectations, policies and enforcement practices by reinforcing the existing laws.
While I have summarised the bulk of the amendments in this bill, I would also like to outline the technical and typographical corrections proposed that further improve on the administration and operation of city services. Unclear and outdated references and provisions are corrected in the Magistrates Court (Litter Infringement Notices) Regulation 2004, the Cemeteries and Crematoria Act 2020 and the Plastic Reduction Act 2021. These updates play a significant role in ensuring that the ACT’s legislative frameworks are accurate, reliable, consistent and up to date with current drafting practice and with the operational realities on the ground.
I am pleased to say that the bill being introduced today improves the operation and effective administration of the laws in the territory and protects the essential municipal services that the government provides to the community. I commend the bill to the Assembly.
Debate (on motion by Mr Cain) adjourned to the next sitting.
Freedom of Information Amendment Bill 2022
Mr Steel, pursuant to notice, presented the bill, its explanatory statement and a Human Rights Act compatibility statement.
Title read by Clerk.
MR STEEL (Murrumbidgee—Minister for Skills, Minister for Transport and City Services and Special Minister of State) (11.27): I move:
That this bill be agreed to in principle.
I am pleased to present the Freedom of Information Amendment Bill 2022 to the Assembly. The bill makes changes to the Freedom of Information Act 2016 to allow more flexibility in administrative processes and enable more efficient processing of information access requests. A more streamlined FOI framework supports applicants and respondents to direct their resources and time to processes that contribute to fast and fair decision-making. This bill is intended to facilitate access to government information and improve outcomes for all individual applicants, government respondents and review bodies.
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