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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2001 Week 8 Hansard (9 August) . . Page.. 2639 ..

MR MOORE (continuing):

This bill will establish the Sentence Administration Board in place of the existing Parole Board. The new board will have a membership of up to 11 community representatives from whom the chair will be able to create divisions to perform specified board functions. This will increase the capacity of the board, enabling it to continue to carefully consider each case individually and expedite administrative functions.

The board will have the power to issue warrants, consistent with legislation governing parole in other jurisdictions, and will be able to consider issues of non-compliance with parole orders after the orders have expired. This is an important justice issue, given that a breach that currently occurs during the parole period cannot be considered after the parole order has expired. This means that where an offender has breached an order and is not brought before the board during the parole period, there may be no consequence for the breach. Consequences are an important behaviour modification strategy. The new board will consider every breach, regardless of whether the order has expired.

The availability of home detention for young people will allow the courts to provide a sentencing option that emphasises the seriousness of the offence whilst diverting the young offender from custody. This reflects best practice intervention with young people, whilst acknowledging through legislation the best interests of the young person within the context of the Children and Young People Act 1999.

In conclusion, the longer-term goal of this government must be to see the terms and practice of case management and through care captured in legislation. This interim bill will enable the process to begin by introducing a new sentencing option which allows for the maintenance of family and community ties and enables offenders to reintegrate with the community under intensive correctional supervision and support.

Home detention will be a significant step in the process of revising correctional legislation in the territory. Establishment of the Sentence Administration Board is pre-emptive of increasing the role and functions of the board, the appropriateness of which will become apparent as the larger review of legislation progresses. Mr Speaker, I commend the bill to the Assembly.

Debate (on motion by Mr Hargreaves ) adjourned to the next sitting.

Road Transport (Public Passenger Services) Amendment Bill 2001

Mr Smyth , pursuant to notice, presented the bill and its explanatory memorandum.

Title read by Clerk.

MR SMYTH (Minister for Urban Services, Minister for Business, Tourism and the Arts and Minister for Police and Emergency Services) (10.58): I move:

That this bill be agreed to in principle.

I seek leave to have my tabling speech incorporated in Hansard.

Leave granted.

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