Page 4271 - Week 14 - Tuesday, 29 November 1994
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As well as addressing the above issues, the amendment also removes the requirement for licensed premises to prohibit smoking in at least 50 per cent of their public floor space from 6 December 1994. Consistent with the intent of the Assembly, it also allows for the deferment of the implementation of this requirement for two years and six months after the enactment of the Bill.
A number of bodies have been consulted on these issues, including the Tourism Industry Association, the AHA, the ACT Restaurant and Catering Association, the Licensed Clubs Association, the Canberra Business Council, the Confederation of ACT Industry, the ACT Chamber of Commerce, the Cancer Society and the National Heart Foundation. With the exception of the issue of a fee, there was unanimous agreement with the proposed changes. The AHA and RCA wanted a single initial fee as low as possible. All business groups requested consultation on the size and nature of fees, and this consultation will be conducted early next year in the course of setting up the exemption scheme for restaurants. The majority of the provisions of the Smoke-free Areas (Enclosed Public Places) Act 1994 commenced on 5 October, and the prohibition on smoking in enclosed public places commences on 6 December 1994.
Madam Speaker, these amendments are essential to the appropriate and efficient administration of the legislation. Some of them come out of the process of a Bill that was substantially altered from the Government's original intent. It was clear that the will of the Assembly would not have been properly reflected, due to some technical anomalies, and the Government has sought to correct this. I have consulted with the Opposition and Independents. I present the explanatory memorandum.
Debate (on motion by Mrs Carnell) adjourned.
DISCHARGE OF ORDER OF THE DAY
MR LAMONT (Minister for Urban Services, Minister for Housing and Community Services, Minister for Industrial Relations and Minister for Sport) (10.17): Madam Speaker, in accordance with standing order 152, I move:
That order of the day No. 1, Executive business, relating to the Sports (Drug Testing) Bill 1993, be discharged from the notice paper.
The Sports (Drug Testing) Bill provides for the Australian Sports Drug Agency, ASDA, to carry out its sampling and drug testing functions on designated ACT athletes. The Government introduced the Bill last year in response to an agreement reached by the Sport and Recreation Ministers Council, the SRMC, for States and Territories to introduce complementary legislation to the Commonwealth legislation, to enable ASDA to expand its coverage to relevant athletes competing at events at the State or Territory level. Under Assembly standing order 152, I have moved that the Bill be withdrawn, for the reasons that I will now outline.
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