Page 401 - Week 02 - Tuesday, 15 February 2005
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consistent laws regulating the operation of the legal profession in the ACT, the government will bring forward legislation to remove significant barriers to interstate legal practice and allow for greater competition in the provision of legal services. That will have particular benefits for national legal firms operating out of the territory and for ACT legal practitioners who carry out work in regional New South Wales.
We will also continue to implement the criminal code project, with a further two criminal code bills proposed for introduction in this session. The first will insert in the code a new chapter 7, which will contain offences relating to the administration of justice. The legislation will ensure that the law on perjury and other related offences will be conveniently located in one discrete chapter of the code. Chapter 7 will also include offences on falsifying, destroying or concealing evidence, corrupting, threatening or taking reprisals against witnesses, and perverting the course of justice.
A major priority for the government is ensuring the safety and quality of care for children and young people. The development of child protection legislation concerning offender registration will provide the ACT with a consistent child protection registration scheme mutually recognised by other jurisdictions. The legislation is a key initiative towards reducing the incidence of offences against children through the establishment of an offenders register and associated reporting requirements.
Additionally, amendments to the Children and Young People Act will be brought forward to regulate children’s services and the employment, care and protection of children and young people in the ACT. This will provide for the meaningful participation of children and young people in decisions about their lives, expanded options and greater support for diversionary and rehabilitation initiatives for young people involved in the youth justice system, the development of strategies to reduce the number of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and young people separated from their families and communities, and greater clarity around care and protection arrangements for our most vulnerable children and young people.
To promote and protect the interests of children and young people and to provide for the resolution of complaints about services provided for children and young people, the government will establish an independent Commissioner for Children and Young People in the ACT, as recommended by Commissioner Vardon in the Territory as parent report. The government has been consulting with children, young people and organisations about the proposed role and function of the commissioner and the outcome of these consultations will inform the development of the commissioner’s functions.
Mr Speaker, the protection of the environment remains a key commitment of the government. Legislation will be introduced to replace the existing declarations and orders provisions in the Land (Planning and Environment) Act to deal with pest plants and animals. The proposed legislation will provide a more comprehensive and targeted approach to regulating pest plants and animals in the ACT. The proposed legislation will incorporate nationally agreed principles for pest plants and animal management.
Amendments to the Animal Diseases Act, the Pounds Act and the Stock Act are also proposed. Legislation will be introduced to deal with activities of the rural sector, the primary production market, the health of animals and the management of animal diseases. The proposed legislation will allow for application of the national livestock
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