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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1996 Week 9 Hansard (29 August) . . Page.. 2828 ..

ATTORNEY-GENERAL OF THE AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY

LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY QUESTION

QUESTION NUMBER 252

Security Industry - Code of Practice

Ms Follett - asked the Minister for Consumer Affairs - Is it true that you are preparing a Code of Practice for the Security Industry. If so, (a) when will this Code be released; (b) what consultation arrangements will apply; and (c) why are you not preparing legislation on this matter, when experience interstate indicates that a Code of Practice is insufficient protection for the public.

Mr Humphries - The answer to the Member's question to the Minister for Consumer Affairs is as follows:

I have directed the Director of Consumer Affairs to prepare codes of practice in relation to the Security Protection Industry and the Investigation Industry under the Fair Trading Act.

In relation to the other matters you raised:

(a) Indicative codes of practice concerning a number of constituent parts of these industries have been prepared. These indicative codes deal with:

. the guard and patrol services industry;

. the crowd marshals industry;

. the access control industry; and

. the investigation industry.

The indicative codes are available from the Consumer Affairs Bureau. The desirability of a separate additional code dealing with bodyguard services is also under consideration and will be available shortly for industry consideration. The availability of these codes has been advertised to industry and the community. A number of meetings with industry groups have taken place to consider the codes.

(b) The Fair Trading Act requires that the Director arrange for consultation with, and invite submissions from, such persons and organisations with an interest in the codes. If the Director is satisfied that associated persons in a field of trade or commerce have, in consultation with organisations representing consumers and other interested persons, agreed to abide by the codes in their dealings with or in relation to consumers, the Director may submit the codes to me for consideration together with any recommendations by the Director with respect to amendments to the code.

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