Page 2676 - Week 09 - Wednesday, 25 August 1993
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Essentially, it is about making Canberra safer. Introducing such things as demerit points schemes may be seen as something that will not attract immediate popularity, because some people will be unhappy that they will lose their licence. But the Government has taken the view - and I am pleased that the Opposition has taken the responsible position of supporting it - that such a form of licensing sends a very strong message to errant motorists that if they have had a few speeding convictions they had better change their behaviour or they risk losing their licence.
This will bring the ACT more into line with national standards of road safety protection as a result of the Commonwealth's initiative some years ago on a national 10-point road safety scheme. It was an initiative of the former Federal Minister, Mr Brown - one of the most significant initiatives that the Commonwealth Government has taken in road safety measures - and it has resulted in States, which were previously very disparate in the way they dealt with road safety issues, coming to a common approach, and that has been a very positive move.
Madam Speaker, at this point I table a minor corrigendum to the explanatory memorandum that was previously circulated. The explanatory memorandum refers to learners permits and provisional licences, whereas it should have referred to provisional and full licences. I table that to formally correct the record. In the detail stage I will be moving some minor amendments.
Question resolved in the affirmative.
Bill agreed to in principle.
Detail Stage
Bill, by leave, taken as a whole
MR CONNOLLY (Attorney-General, Minister for Housing and Community Services and Minister for Urban Services) (3.23): Madam Speaker, I ask for leave to move amendments to clauses 6 and 34 together.
Leave granted.
MR CONNOLLY: I move:
Page 11, clause 6, line 1, proposed new subsection 9B(19), omit "shall", substitute "may".
Page 14, clause 6, line 12, proposed new subsection 10(16), omit "shall", substitute "may".
Page 35, paragraph 34(a), line 26, proposed new item 6AA, after proposed new item 6A insert the following item:
"6AA Subsection 9B(19). Refusing to grant a provisional licence to drive a public motor vehicle, a private hire car or a licensed goods motor vehicle.".
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