Page 3564 - Week 10 - Tuesday, 25 August 2009
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Chief Magistrate, the Victims of Crime Coordinator and representatives from the ACT Bar Association, the ACT Law Society, Legal Aid, the ACT Human Rights Commission, the DPP and ACT Policing. I am advised that the Police Powers Steering Committee, as it is known, has met on four occasions to progress this work.
As part of this process, and in accordance with the SCAG agreement, the government will also be enacting additional cross-border investigative powers model laws. This will further enhance the nationally coordinated and cooperative approach to cross-border investigations into crime.
I and other members of this government continue to be concerned about comments made to the media that are designed to elicit fear and create a sense of panic. That is why we have an ACT Assembly. We are the body politic for the territory and we need to reach our own conclusions. I believe that this report will help the Assembly to do that.
Members should reflect on the experiences of other jurisdictions and the experience of our jurisdiction. We are not immune to organised crime or outlaw motorcycle clubs, but we are not experiencing the same issues as Victoria and New South Wales.
I agree with the Attorney-General that the report does give us pause for thought. I believe that this motion and the report will equip the Assembly with the facts. We do not have to act in haste. We should consider the facts, consider our opinions and make sure that we do not breach the Human Rights Act. I have a particular interest in motorcycles because my husband is an avid motorcycle rider and it beggars belief that such activity and gathering of like-minded friends could create guilt by association.
Debate interrupted in accordance with standing order 74 and the resumption of the debate made an order of the day for a later hour.
Sitting suspended from 12.30 to 2 pm.
Questions without notice
Department of Territory and Municipal Services—strategic budget review
MR SESELJA: My question is to the Minister for Territory and Municipal Services. It relates to the strategic budget review of the Department of Territory and Municipal Services of 9 December 2008. The review gives a scathing assessment of the department and reveals the true extent of the failed tenure of the former minister, Mr Hargreaves. Minister, given the lack of savings, the cost blow-outs under the former minister, the raid on the Treasurer’s advance and the lack of comprehensive forward planning, how will you as minister ensure that the savings of $7 million in the efficiency dividend are achieved and the mistakes of the former minister are not repeated?
MR STANHOPE: I thank Mr Seselja for the question. Indeed, the report is a strong report. It is a report that was commissioned by the department in order to assist it in
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