Page 5872 - Week 14 - Tuesday, 7 December 2010
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omnibus legislation, in which he is well practised. He has done this a number of times. Indeed, he tried it for this very same act—the Security Industry Act—this time last year. Then he tries to lull us into a false sense of purpose by calling it minor and non-controversial and not a matter of policy. Quite simply, Mr Assistant Speaker, this is false. These amendments do go to matters of policy—quite major policy reforms which are part of a national agenda.
Finally, because this Attorney-General and his government are so lazy, they introduce these amendments at the last minute, leaving little time for others in this place to consider the legislation and to consult with the community on it. Then this Attorney-General has the temerity to suggest that it is the opposition that is lazy and not himself or his government.
I ask you, Mr Assistant Speaker: how long has the Attorney-General known about these amendments? I will tell you. He has known since July 2008—fully 2½ years—that amendments need to be made to the security industry in accordance with agreements signed by COAG. How long has he had to have them drafted? How long has he had to consult on them and how many times has he discussed this major policy change that has been before us and COAG since 2008?
Then he gives other members in this place, representing the people of Canberra, less than three weeks to consider legislation that is of major importance nationally and, when taken together with what is yet to come, represents a significant policy shift for the ACT, its business community and the country at large. The Attorney-General’s laziness is plainly disgraceful. This Attorney-General is a disgrace. He will, as usual, avert his eyes, shake his head and stare at the desk. His shame is profound, and deservedly so.
But let me turn to the amendments themselves. There are three amendments to the Security Industry Act 2002, all of which are part of the national reform agenda, as I have said, agreed to at COAG in July 2008. Firstly, the amendments expand the range of activities that fall under the category of security activities and, therefore, become licence subclasses. These activities apply to guards with firearms for cash in transit or for protecting property, noting that the guards must also hold a firearms licence; employees who act as monitoring centre operators; and guards with dogs.
Secondly, a transitional provision allows the holders of employee licences who have been doing the work of the new licence subclasses to apply for suitable endorsement of their licence within two years of the commencement of the new subclasses. Their experience will count as the equivalent of satisfactory completion of a training course for the subclasses.
Finally, the amendments to the Security Industry Act create a new class of licence, called a temporary visitor licence, which can be in “master” or “employee” form. These temporary licences can be used when interstate licensed persons undertake work in the ACT for special events, such as sporting or entertainment events.
A consequential amendment to the Security Industry Regulation 2003 is made to prescribe the training courses appropriate to the new subclasses of licence. The
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