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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1999 Week 8 Hansard (26 August) . . Page.. 2519 ..

MR HUMPHRIES (continuing):

The local cooperative sector will be given six weeks to make submissions on the draft Bill. It is intended that following this period of consultation the Bill will be introduced later in the Spring sittings.

The Bill incorporates a comprehensive set of core consistent provisions which have been adopted by most state and territory jurisdictions of Australia with the exception of Tasmania and Western Australia which are expected to enact similar legislation in the near future. The Commonwealth is not directly involved in the regulation of cooperatives.

In the July 1996 meeting of the Standing Committee of Attorneys-General it was agreed that each state and territory would reform their cooperative societies legislation by adopting a set of core consistent provisions.

Ministers have discussed the need to have a formal intergovernment agreement to ensure legislative consistency and effective regulation and administration of cooperatives across Australia.

The purpose of the Agreement would be to provide uniformity and clarity for the States and Territories and the Commonwealth about the way in which consistent cooperatives legislation is formulated and maintained.

As yet, there is no draft agreement before the Ministers and there is no final timetable for the draft Cooperative Laws Agreement, prepared by officers, to be considered by the Standing Committee of Attorneys-General.

This reference to the Committee meets the requirements of the Administration (Interstate Agreement) Act 1997.

I move that the Bill be referred to the Standing Committee for the Chief Minister's Portfolio.

MR HUMPHRIES: Mr Speaker, I also indicate that I have referred this to the Chief Minister's Portfolio Standing Committee because, (a) I am a sadist, and, (b) there is not yet a committee established with respect to the Department of Treasury and Infrastructure.

Mr Quinlan: I have been meaning to talk to you about that.

MR HUMPHRIES: I am working on the assumption that the Chief Minister's Portfolio Committee will play that role. In fact, until otherwise resolved by the Assembly, that is the basis on which the Government will proceed. If Mr Quinlan and his committee wish to avoid this responsibility they will have to move the motion very quickly.

Debate (on motion by Mr Quinlan ) adjourned.

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