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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1997 Week 3 Hansard (10 April) . . Page.. 846 ..

MR HUMPHRIES (continuing):

As I have indicated, there are important policy reasons for having an accurate register. The Bill I am presenting will tighten the requirements for providing information to the registrar by providing that information must be updated annually. The Bill also requires the registrar to give operators of brothels and escort agencies 28 days' notice of when updated information is due. This renewed information will need to be accompanied by a determined fee, which I intend to set at $100. I also intend to increase the determined fee accompanying information for the register when a business has just commenced operating from $52 to $200. These increases will help to cover the administrative costs involved in keeping the register.

The Bill also requires operators of brothels and escort agencies to inform the registrar in writing within seven days of a business ceasing to operate. The penalties for failing to notify the registrar of renewed details or of cessation of the business are the same as those currently provided in the Act for failure to provide initial information or for not notifying the registrar where the information on the register is incorrect. A maximum penalty of a $10,000 fine or two years' imprisonment is provided for an individual, or a $50,000 fine for a corporation. It is hoped that these amendments will improve the accuracy of the information contained on the register relating to brothels and escort agencies. I commend this Bill to the Assembly.

Debate (on motion by Mr Moore) adjourned.

MR STEFANIAK (Minister for Education and Training) (11.10): Mr Speaker, I present the Canberra Institute of Technology (Amendment) Bill 1997, together with its explanatory memorandum.

Title read by Clerk.

MR STEFANIAK: I move:

That this Bill be agreed to in principle.

Mr Speaker, the proposed amendments to the Act are minimal. They relate only to the terms and conditions of appointment of the director and acting director. As it stands, current provisions in the CIT Act are inconsistent with those of other ACT Public Service executives. Termination provisions in the Act differ markedly from those of other executives. Under the CIT Act the director's appointment can be terminated only for misbehaviour, physical or mental incapacity, bankruptcy, unapproved absence from duty, or imprisonment for one year or more. Such provisions are not in line with those included in senior executive contracts under section 72 of the Public Service Management Act.

The Bill repeals the sections of the CIT Act relating to resignation, termination of appointment, and leave of absence. These matters will be dealt with within a schedule to a ministerial instrument of appointment. The newly appointed director, Mr Peter Veenker, was consulted about the proposed changes prior to commencing duty.

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