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

Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2002 Week 12 Hansard (13 November) . . Page.. 3539 ..

Adopt a road program

MR WOOD: Mr Speaker, yesterday Mr Cornwell asked me about the adopt a road program and the liability issue. It has had problems with liability insurance. In July 2002 the government was unable to renew its cover for individual volunteers working on the program and, as a consequence, groups without their own cover in place were stood down. A solution was put in place in October 2002, which involved the ACT Insurance Authority indemnifying volunteers under the Civil Law (Wrongs) Act, the act that Mr Quinlan introduced in 2002. Since the commencement of this act, the volunteers to community organisations are protected from personal liability while they are undertaking volunteer activities for that organisation.

Advice was not sought about what would happen if a person was injured while working on a section of road, as Urban Services ensured that this was not a risk for the territory by standing down for that period all uninsured volunteers until the matter was resolved.

WorkCover-explosives depot

MR CORBELL: Mr Speaker, in question time today Mrs Cross asked me a question about the fireworks depot at Mugga Lane. For her information and the information of members, WorkCover, as I indicated, stores fireworks that are uncollected goods following seizures for illegal fireworks, abandoned fireworks and fireworks that have been forfeited to the government as part of any resolution of court matters.

The total quantity is approximately 45 tonnes and it is stored at WorkCover's fireworks depot. As soon as the Commissioner for Occupational Health and Safety became aware that some members of the fireworks industry had made public the location of the facility, she undertook a security assessment of the facility from an independent provider. She also put in place additional security, at some considerable cost, to ensure that the facility was absolutely secure. I need to stress that this is not a normal requirement for such facilities.

I am advised that the safety and security assessment cannot be made public for security reasons. Nevertheless, I can say that I have examined the assessment, and I have noted the findings, which are that the facility more than meets the safety requirements which are set out in the relevant legislation, including the fact that it is three times-I stress, three times-the required safety distance from the nearest house. The facility has security processes which appropriately address the concerns that arise when the location of such a facility is made public.

World summit on sustainable development

Paper and statement by member

MR WOOD (Minister for Urban Services, Minister for the Arts and Minister for Disability, Housing and Community Services): Mr Speaker, for the information of members, I present the following paper:

World Summit on Sustainable Development-Johannesburg, 26 August-4 September 2002-Report by Bill Wood (Minister for Urban Services)

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