Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . .

Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1999 Week 13 Hansard (7 December) . . Page.. 3813 ..

MR HIRD (continuing):

decided that, given the low level of public interest, it was not necessary to hold public hearings on the Bill.

In my dissenting report, as our chairman indicated, I dissented from all recommendations in the majority report. The majority of the committee has accepted that the Berry Bill should be supported, with amendments which will simply add to the complexity of the scheme as it applies to employment agencies. The primary reason for my dissent from these recommendations is that I do not believe the cost of implementation justifies the regulation of agents in the manner prescribed. The Government presented a very strong submission which indicated that the cost of this scheme would be in the order of $100,000 and that this cost would have to be passed on to agencies affected and ultimately to the clients, to the consumers. No cost-benefit analysis was undertaken by the committee.

Of serious concern is that the majority of the committee supported a fee pegged at $100 for registration per client and a $100 annual fee per client. The revenue raised from such a fee could not possibly cover the cost of introducing this expensive regulatory regime. The committee's majority recommendation 6 is obviously defective and will lead to an impost on ratepayers to support a scheme for which no justifiable case has been presented.

However, I would like to thank my colleagues on the committee. As I said in my opening remarks, on this occasion I do not agree with them but I thank them. I would also like to thank the three submitters of written submissions to the committee and also our secretary, Fiona Patten.

Debate (on motion by Mr Humphries ) adjourned.

MR HUMPHRIES (Treasurer, Attorney-General and Minister for Justice and Community Safety): Mr Speaker, I present, for the information of members, the Government's response to the Standing Committee on Justice and Community Safety Report No. 5, entitled "The Emergency Management Bill 1998". The report was presented to the Assembly on 16 November 1999.

MR HIRD: Mr Speaker, I seek leave to correct something I said in my remarks on the report on the Agents (Amendment) Bill. I thank the Leader of the House for pointing out to me that I said Fiona Patten when in fact our secretary is Fiona Clapin. I apologise to the house.

Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . .