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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2004 Week 10 Hansard (Thursday, 26 August 2004) . . Page.. 4421 ..

There is a role in the ACT for the Small Business Commissioner to play. The position of Victorian Small Business Commissioner, which is successful, has not resulted in the creation of another layer of bureaucracy; rather, it has obviated the need for people to access a number of other bureaucracies. The Victorian Liberal opposition wholeheartedly supported the creation of the position of Small Business Commissioner. Frankly, I would have expected the same support in the ACT. I will wait for the other shoe to drop.

Question put:

That this bill be agreed to in principle.

The Assembly voted—

Question so resolved in the affirmative.

Bill agreed to in principle.

Detail stage

Clauses 1 to 20, by leave, taken together and agreed to.

Proposed new clause 21.

MS TUCKER (10.10): I move amendment No 1 circulated in my name, which proposes that new clause 21 be inserted [see schedule 8 at page 4474]. I have already spoken to this amendment. New clause 21 would ensure that there is a review of the act after the conclusion of its second year of operation. Members have the amendment in front of them so they will understand what that review aims to achieve.

MS DUNDAS (10.10): The Democrats are happy to support this amendment. As we said during the in-principle stage, although we have a number of concerns with the establishment of the position of commissioner, we are happy with the proposal to establish a review so we can see how the commissioner is operating and whether the act needs to be reviewed or revised in two years time.

MR SMYTH (Leader of the Opposition) (10.11): The opposition has come to the same conclusion—a review would be useful to establish whether the Small Business Commissioner fulfilled the intended purpose of the legislation. We support the amendment.

MR QUINLAN (Treasurer, Minister for Economic Development, Business and Tourism, and Minister for Sport, Racing and Gaming) (10.11): The government is happy

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