Page 2884 - Week 09 - Tuesday, 11 October 2022

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DR PATERSON (Murrumbidgee) (4.49), in reply: I would like to thank colleagues today for their tripartisan support of the motion to reduce cardiovascular disease in women and raise awareness in the community. I hope that the outcome of this motion will increase awareness, including the signs and symptoms to look out for.

There is still a long way to go in data collection, and I hope all governments across Australia can work together to improve this. For the ACT, improving data collection, public health measures and community awareness has the potential to improve outcomes for cardiovascular health across the ACT community.

I thank the National Heart Foundation for their advocacy, research and support in developing this motion. I also thank the many organisations and research institutes that work every day to ensure the best health outcomes for all Australians. I thank Ms Castley, Mr Davis and Minister Stephen-Smith for their words today.

Question resolved in the affirmative.

Electricity Safety Legislation Amendment Bill 2022

Ms Vassarotti, pursuant to notice, presented the bill, its explanatory statement and a Human Rights Act compatibility statement.

Title read by Clerk.

MS VASSAROTTI (Kurrajong—Minister for the Environment, Minister for Heritage, Minister for Homelessness and Housing Services and Minister for Sustainable Building and Construction) (4.52): I move:

That this bill be agreed to in principle.

I am pleased to present the Electricity Safety Legislation Amendment Bill 2022. This amendment bill seeks to introduce a power for the minister to exempt a regulated utility service from the operation of the Electricity Safety Act 1971. The origin of this amendment was the recognition of a need to remove the existing duplication of regulation of electrical work undertaken as part of the light rail network.

When the light rail project was initially proposed, the territory executive considered how the construction and operation of the light rail would be regulated to ensure ongoing safety to industry and the public. It was decided that the regulatory framework set out by the Utilities (Technical Regulation) Act 2014 was appropriately robust and flexible. This meant that the “provision of electricity from a light rail network” became a regulated utility service and has been, and continues to be, regulated by way of an operating certificate under the Utilities (Technical Regulation) Act.

The operating certificate regime allows for flexibility and innovation in design, staggered construction and commissioning phases, and proper oversight at all stages. The flexibility of this regulatory framework makes it an appropriate mechanism by which to regulate a large-scale project like the light rail utility network. For stage 1 of the light rail, operating certificates were granted for both the design and construct


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