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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1997 Week 9 Hansard (4 September) . . Page.. 2884 ..

MR KAINE (continuing):

The introduction of the proposed amendment has no financial implications for the Government. Some additional revenue may be raised through the recovery of unpaid premiums and the collection of on-the-spot fines. However, this is not the reason for introducing these measures. It is to send the right signals to those few employers who do not maintain workers compensation policies that there will be an additional reason to keep their policy current, and to provide an additional regulatory means of achieving compliance, other than preparing a prosecution brief for consideration by the courts.

Additionally, administrative costs for the nominal insurer would be recovered by adoption of the relevant amendments, and this will allow the redirection of resources into compliance activities, which, in time, should reduce the number of claims on the nominal insurer. The amendments aim to tighten collection of premiums, particularly from uninsured employers, and make a premium payable for cover notes issued by insurers. Insurers should benefit from these amendments, and subsequent savings may be available to the majority of responsible employers who maintain a current workers compensation policy.

This Bill which I present to the Assembly is a simple but significant improvement to the ACT workers compensation scheme. It will deliver significant cost savings for ACT employers while maintaining a fair and equitable compensation scheme for injured workers. The proposals which are detailed in this Bill provide a basis for achieving consistency within a national framework and will maximise the prospects for enduring, quality solutions for workers compensation arrangements in the ACT. I commend the Bill to the Assembly.

Debate (on motion by Ms McRae) adjourned.

MR KAINE (Minister for Urban Services) (11.04): Mr Speaker, I present the Electricity (National Scheme) Bill 1997, together with its explanatory memorandum, the National Electricity (South Australia) Act 1996 and an explanatory memorandum prepared on the Schedule to that Act.

Title read by Clerk.

MR KAINE: I move:

That this Bill be agreed to in principle.

Mr Speaker, the Electricity (National Scheme) Bill 1997 provides for the establishment of the national electricity market. This Bill and the related consequential amendments Bill, which I shall introduce shortly, represent the culmination of a fundamental and far-reaching micro-economic reform process. What this reform process means is that the wholesale supply of electricity - basically, supply from generators through to retailers - in Queensland, New South Wales, South Australia, Victoria and the Australian Capital Territory will be on the basis of a single competitive market and a single national regulatory framework.

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