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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2004 Week 01 Hansard (Thursday, 12 February 2004) . . Page.. 341 ..

The government will run an education and information campaign in the lead-up to the new laws taking effect that will encourage anyone holding illegal explosives or fireworks to contact WorkCover. An inspector will then go out to assess the explosives and make arrangements for their safe removal and destruction. WorkCover will liaise with the Australian Federal Police bomb squad and other emergency services on logistics for removal and destruction.

In conclusion, this bill is part of a broader package of industrial workers compensation and work safety reforms being progressed by this government. These reforms include a comprehensive occupational health and safety compliance and enforcement strategy. The new Dangerous Substances Bill will establish the ACT as a national leader in this area of regulation. I thank members for their willingness to consider this important bill quickly, although we will be adjourning the detail stage of the debate, and also for attending government briefings held over the last month.

The passage of this bill will ensure that the ACT has implemented the national dangerous goods standards and can continue to receive national competition payments. It will ensure that the ACT has effective legislative controls over the raw materials that can be used by terrorists and it will ensure that the police and inspectors have powers to allow them to control fireworks properly.

During consultation on the bill a number of issues were raised by members and by the scrutiny of bills committee. The government believes that it is appropriate to make some improvements to the bill as a result of this consultation. I foreshadow that in the detail stage I will move 29 amendments.

I thank officers from the Office of Industrial Relations, particularly Shelly Schreiner, Penny Shakespeare, and Garrett Purtill from my office for their tremendous efforts in getting this bill here today and for providing support for the consultation process.

Question resolved in the affirmative. Bill agreed to in principle.

Detail stage

Clause 1.

Debate (on motion by Ms Gallagher) adjourned to the next sitting.

Discharge of orders of the day

Debate resumed.

MRS DUNNE (5.24): I seek leave to move the amendment circulated in Ms Tucker’s name.

Leave granted.

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