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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2000 Week 4 Hansard (30 March) . . Page.. 1086 ..

MR HUMPHRIES (continuing):

This Bill. like the Electricity Amendment Bill Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2000, complements the regulatory regime for utilities proposed in the Utilities Bill Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2000.

The Utilities Bill Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2000 repeals the Energy and Water Act 1988. The Canberra Sewerage and Water Supply Regulations are in force under that Act and therefore a review of these regulations, which mainly deal with requirements for plumbing and drainage work on private land, was undertaken.

As part of this review, those regulations relating to utilities have been removed and have been picked up in the Utilities Bill Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2000.

Furthermore, this review has resulted in some regulations, covering work at the customer's premises, transferring to primary legislation hence the Water and Sewerage Bill Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2000. For example, it was considered more appropriate for the regulations relating to plan approvals including the appointment of certifiers and the issuing of plan approvals to be in primary legislation. The scheme for plan approvals under this Bill will protect the interests of consumers and utilities.

The Water and Sewerage Bill Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2000 also specifies offences for unlicensed persons working at a consumers premises. This includes work on sprinklers, sanitary plumbing and household drainage. These offences also cover work connecting a customer's service pipe to a water network which is important in protecting the integrity of water supply in the Territory.

As with the Electricity Amendment Bill, the enforcement and inspectorate powers parallel those in the Utilities Bill.

Importantly, this Bill establishes the mechanism whereby the Canberra Sewerage and Water Supply Regulations, which have not been picked up in the Water and Sewerage Bill, will have force.

These remaining regulations are to be re-made under this Bill. Work is continuing to re-organise and up-date the regulations. It is anticipated that these will be completed in time for the May sittings.

I commend the Water and Sewerage Bill Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2000 to the Assembly.

Debate (on motion by Mr Corbell ) adjourned.

TERRITORY OWNED CORPORATIONS AMENDMENT BILL 2000

MR HUMPHRIES (Treasurer, Attorney-General and Minister for Justice and Community Safety) (10.53): Mr Speaker, I present the Territory Owned Corporations Amendment Bill 2000, together with its explanatory memorandum.

Title read by Clerk.

MR HUMPHRIES: Mr Speaker, I move:

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