Page 3220 - Week 09 - Tuesday, 18 August 2009
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The safety and proper care of children and young people is another high government priority. This is to be improved through amendments to the Adoption Act 1993 that reflect best practice, are child-centred and compliant with the territory’s human rights law.
In 2006 the government began a review of the Adoption Act, which when first an act, was viewed as progressive legislation. Since that time a number of developments have provided impetus to ensure that the act remains consistent with other legislation and for it to reflect contemporary evidence-based and best practice in the adoption of children and young people.
Another national law that the government will propose be adopted is in relation to the regulation of health practitioners by implementing a national registration and accreditation scheme agreed by Australian health ministers. The ACT has been at the forefront of innovation in the area of portable long service schemes, being the first to introduce a cleaning scheme in 2004. In this regard we will propose to establish a portable long service scheme for workers in the territory’s community and childcare sectors, as foreshadowed in this year’s budget. The ability to transfer long service leave in these important sectors that employ a significant number of people will further strengthen employee entitlements.
Contractors in the building and construction industry are also to be assisted with security of payments legislation closely modelled on the New South Wales scheme. This will allow contractors to more easily claim and recover outstanding payments for services provided. It had been previously flagged for the autumn 2009 sittings but was delayed because of negotiations to determine future governance arrangements for the scheme.
To provide for the government’s ongoing efforts in dealing with the economic situation facing the territory and, at the same time, to protect and support the community a suite of new financial legislation is to be introduced. As part of the Australian government extension of the first home owner boost initiative, the ACT government, along with the other states and territories, has agreed to continue to administer the program. The aims of the boost are to stimulate housing activity, give first home buyers a better chance in the housing market and promote growth in the Australian economy. To administer the boost in the ACT, changes will be made to the First Home Owner Grant Act 2000.
While the boost is due to cease from 30 September—it was due to cease in 30 June—it will continue in its current form until 30 September and will provide an additional $7,000 to first home buyers purchasing an established home and $14,000 to first home buyers purchasing a newly constructed home. From 1 October to 31 December the boost payments will be halved.
Amendments will also be sought by way of the Revenue Legislation Amendment Bill 2009 to the First Home Owner Grant Act, and also to the Taxation Administration Act. Changes to the First Home Owner Grant Act will provide a definition of “reviewable decision” for the purpose of tribunal proceedings; extend the timeframe from 12 months to 18 months in which a grant applicant who
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