Page 517 - Week 02 - Tuesday, 10 February 2009
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Legislative reform remains a high government priority. We started this in December with presentation of the Freedom of Information Amendment Bill 2008 (No 2), the Crimes (Murder) Amendment Bill 2008 and re-introduction from the last Assembly of the Classification (Publications, Films and Computer Games) (Enforcement) Amendment Bill.
The FOI bill will further enhance open government by removing conclusive statement certificates under Section 35 and 36 of the act. It does not affect such statements in relation to national security considerations. The second bill provides for a third fault, or mental element, for the offence of murder bringing the ACT into line with all other Australian jurisdictions while the third bill proposes amendments already made in the commonwealth’s Classification (Publications, Films and Computer Games) Act 1995. It will ensure that the scheme for classification of publications, films and computer games in the ACT adequately keeps abreast of technological changes in the industry.
Industrial relations and worker safety laws are also to be given attention. Consequential amendments will be made to the Work Safety Act 2008 that include minor policy clarifications and transitional arrangements, such as the appointment of inspectors, and to ensure the continued application of relevant codes of practice. A new Workers Compensation (Terrorism Provisions) Amendment Bill will extend temporary terrorism provisions that provide insurance coverage to ACT employers for acts of terrorism.
Since September 11 2001, the insurance industry has either not provided reinsurance coverage for terrorism related events, or has provided such coverage at a prohibitive cost to employers. The bill will ensure that ACT workers will be covered for a further three years.
The Workers Compensation (Default Insurance Fund) Amendment Bill 2009 will amend the funding model through which the default insurance fund raises capital to ensure that insurers and self-insurers bear risks relevant to their market share at the date the claim is received. The bill will also clarify certain other provisions of the act to facilitate more efficient administration of the fund.
The Security of Payments Bill 2009 will also introduce new legislation to establish a mechanism, similar to that which operates in other jurisdictions, for contractors in the building and construction industry to more easily claim and recover outstanding payments for services provided. Lastly, the Long Service Leave (Community Sector) Bill 2009 will introduce new legislation to provide for a portable long service leave scheme for the ACT’s community sector and will also make some changes to improve the administration of the existing portable long service leave schemes.
Mr Speaker, an important government priority is to improve children and young people employment and care. This will be assisted by reforming the Children and Young People Act 2008 and the Adoption Act 1993. The Children and Young People Act was passed in July 2008 and is being implemented in stages from September 2008. It is a substantial piece of legislation that makes provision for child protection, youth justice, child care licensing and employment of children and young people.
The provisions regarding the employment of children and young people were to be implemented as part of the third and final stage on 27 February 2009. When
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