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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1999 Week 4 Hansard (22 April) . . Page.. 1181 ..

MS CARNELL (continuing):

have similar legislation under consideration. Because the Commonwealth's power is not limited in relation to the Territories, no complementary legislation is necessary in the ACT.

As a matter of practice, the ACT generally seeks to enact its own legislation, rather than accepting coverage of the Commonwealth. The decision to accept Commonwealth coverage in the area of Y2K information disclosure legislation was based upon a number of considerations, including the benefits of a maximum level of consistency in this legislation across States and Territories, a desire to derive benefits from the legislation at the earliest possible time, the temporary nature of the legislation, which will expire in June 2001, and a desire to avoid duplication of effort. The legislation will cover disclosure by any entity within the Territory, including government business enterprises.

I urge members of the Assembly, like our counterparts at the Federal level, to take a bipartisan approach to dealing with the ACT's preparation for Y2K and therefore avoid creating unnecessary concern in the ACT community. To this end, I have asked my department to brief all MLAs on current activities and the status of Y2K preparations within ACT government agencies. These briefings will occur at regular intervals. Furthermore, from this month the ACT will be releasing public Y2K status reports on a monthly basis via the media and the ACT government web site. While Australia is recognised as a world leader with regard to Y2K preparations, we share an international problem in the area of having accurate and complete information on Y2K activities readily accessible for the community. The introduction of the information disclosure legislation represents a significant step forward with regard to addressing this very important issue. Mr Speaker, I present the following paper:

I move:

Debate (on motion by Mr Hird ) adjourned.

MR MOORE (Minister for Health and Community Care) (3.44): Mr Speaker, I seek leave of the Assembly to make a ministerial statement on the outcome of the meeting of disability Ministers held in Canberra on 9 April 1999.

Leave granted.

MR MOORE: The issue of unmet needs for services to people with disabilities is increasingly being brought to my attention by people with disabilities and their families, other members of the ACT community, service providers, officers of the Department of Health and Community Care and other members of the Assembly. I am therefore

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