Page 3010 - Week 09 - Thursday, 21 September 2006
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provisions will encourage the use in the ACT of substitute decision-making instruments made under a law of a state or another territory.
I am confident that this bill will help simplify and strengthen the operation of the substitute decision-making system to a very significant extent. Safeguards provided in the Powers of Attorney Bill will address the abuse of older people’s powers of attorney that has been a worrying issue for Canberrans. The outcome of the Powers of Attorney Bill will be that the principal’s interests, rights and wishes will be upheld even after the principal has become vulnerable due to the loss of decision-making capacity and that the trust-like nature of attorneys’ responsibilities is clarified, making it easy for attorneys to understand and comply with them. I commend the bill to the Assembly.
Debate (on motion by Mr Stefaniak) adjourned to the next sitting.
Medical Treatment (Health Directions) Bill 2006
Mr Corbell, pursuant to notice, presented the bill, its explanatory statement and a Human Rights Act compatibility statement.
Title read by Clerk.
MR CORBELL (Molonglo—Attorney-General, Minister for Police and Emergency Services and Minister for Planning) (10.51): I move:
That this bill be agreed to in principle.
The Medical Treatment (Health Directions) Bill is a consequential amendment bill. It is a rewrite of the provisions of the Medical Treatment Act 1994 which deal with medical directions of people to withhold or withdraw medical treatment. The provisions in the act related to power of attorney for medical treatment are omitted as the new powers of attorney legislation will govern all types of powers of attorney.
A direction made by a person under the Medical Treatment Bill would be called a health direction to refuse or require withdrawal of medical treatment to the maker. A direction can be written or non-written. I commend the bill to the Assembly.
Debate (on motion by Mr Stefaniak) adjourned to the next sitting.
Fisheries Amendment Bill 2006
Mr Hargreaves, pursuant to notice, presented the bill, its explanatory statement and a Human Rights Act compatibility statement.
Title read by Clerk.
MR HARGREAVES (Brindabella—Minister for the Territory and Municipal Services, Minister for Housing and Minister for Multicultural Affairs) (10.53): I move:
That this bill be agreed to in principle.
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