Page 4132 - Week 13 - Thursday, 14 December 2006
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The enforcement provisions in the Rates Act do apply, however, allowing the imposition of interest on a monthly basis and ensuring that the levy is included as a charge on the land in order to secure outstanding debts attaching to a parcel of land.
Mr Speaker, I commend the Rates Amendment Bill to the Assembly.
Debate (on motion by Mr Mulcahy) adjourned to the next sitting.
Corrections Management 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) (10.38): I move:
That this bill be agreed to in principle.
Today I am introducing the Corrections Management Bill 2006. This bill will provide new law that will govern the treatment and management of prisoners and other detainees in the Australian Capital Territory. It is the government’s intention that the bill I introduce today will replace the Remand Centres Act 1976. The new act will govern the ACT’s new prison, the Alexander Maconochie Centre, as well as any present and future corrections facilities.
The bill represents a model of modern prison management. The bill sets out the rules for admission, living conditions, searches, segregation, alcohol and drug testing, the use of force, disciplinary processes and leave processes.
Along with the Crimes (Sentencing) Act 2005 and the Crimes (Sentence Administration) Act 2005, the Corrections Management Bill 2006 completes the suite of new legislation covering sentences in the ACT. The three pieces of law use consistent concepts and methods. Many duplicate sets of powers and processes currently in force will be repealed, with one coherent set of powers and processes.
Mr Speaker, the government has publicly stated that the Alexander Maconochie Centre will be a secure and safe place that will have a positive effect on the lives of prisoners held there, and on staff who work there. The aim of the prison’s management and operations is to give substance to Sir Alexander Paterson’s observation that offenders are sent to prison “as punishment, not for punishment”. The primary function of a prison or a remand centre is to hold people in secure custody. This function is a means to both uphold the law and provide protection to the community from people who pose a risk to the community in the context of criminal justice.
Along with the powers to manage detainees, the bill also governs the lawful treatment of detainees. To this end, the bill is informed by human rights principles and
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