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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2002 Week 14 Hansard (12 December) . . Page.. 4454 ..

MR STANHOPE (continuing):

of the ACT as a member of the Ministerial Council for Corporations, however, is well advanced and anticipated in 2003. The inclusion of the ACT as a signatory will be addressed by the Ministerial Council for Corporations as an amendment to the current agreement.

Heads of Government also agreed to sign a revised Food Regulation Agreement. The original Food Regulation Agreement was signed by COAG on 3 November 2000, with the objective of providing a more coordinated and effective approach to food safety in Australia and New Zealand. The revised Agreement ensures consistency with the Food Standards Australia New Zealand Act 1991 and the Joint Food Standards Treaty with New Zealand.

Agreement to sign a Memorandum of Understanding to underpin the national coordination framework for addressing an outbreak of Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) in Australia, was also reached at the COAG meeting. This followed the FMD simulation, Exercise Minotaur, which was held from 8-13 September 2002. Exercise Minotaur successfully tested peak-level arrangements across and within jurisdictions, as well as emergency roles and linkages across Commonwealth and State/Territory agencies.

Mr Speaker, discussions at last Friday's COAG meeting covered a range of issues, and significant progress was achieved in a number of areas important to the ACT.

I would like to table a copy of my speech 'Outcome of Council of Australian Governments' Meeting, 6 December 2002.

Sitting pattern

MR WOOD (Minister for Urban Services, Minister for the Arts and Minister for Disability, Housing and Community Services) (5.29): Mr Deputy Speaker, I am about to give you your work program for next year, as set out in the motion on the notice paper in my name relating to the sitting pattern for this Assembly for 2003. I move:

That, unless

(1) the Speaker, or in the absence of the Speaker the Deputy Speaker, fixes an alternative day or hour of meeting:

on receipt of a request in writing from an absolute majority of Members, or the Assembly otherwise orders, or

having consulted with Members following the receipt of advice from the Chief Minister that a place of a Senator for the Australian Capital Territory had become vacant before the expiration of his or her term of service; or

(2) the Assembly otherwise orders.

The Assembly shall meet as follows for 2003:

  February     18    19    20

  March        4     5     6
	     11    12    13

  April        1     2     3

  May          6     7     8

  June         17    18    19
               24    25    26

  August       19    20    21
               26    27    28

  September    23    24    25

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