Page 2772 - Week 09 - Thursday, 25 August 1994

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have not been approached by the Motor Trades Association regarding this particular issue, that agreement has now been reached? I look forward to hearing Mr Connolly talk further about these discussions in his response at the completion of the in-principle debate.

Madam Speaker, I do have some argument with the proposed scope of the Bill. It would seem to me to be most appropriate that an almost agreed Code of Practice and an established tribunal to hear disputes should apply to all commercial and retail tenancies in the ACT without limitation. Certainly in the case of tenants that are large enough not to need the protection of the Code, the provisions of the Code would, in most cases, be irrelevant to both landlords and tenants as the turnover and drawing power of large tenants would normally enable them to protect their special interests. In the case of smaller commercial premises, that is those outside a shopping centre with a lettable area of less than 300 square metres, there could be some concern that the tenants may be disadvantaged by being excluded from coverage under the Code.

Madam Speaker, it is also important for members to note that there is an element of retrospectivity associated with some of the

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