Page 6048 - Week 14 - Thursday, 9 December 2010
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In June of this year Prime Minister Gillard wrote to me in her capacity as the Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations. The Prime Minister requested an urgent review of ACT laws to ensure that the national asbestos ban is implemented in line with that advice. I am advised that the same request has been made of all other Australian jurisdictions.
After receiving this request I did instigate a review to ascertain whether the Dangerous Substances Act required amendment. I am advised that the definition presently set out in chapter 3A of the Dangerous Substances Act does not strictly use the new terms recommended. As such, it may inadvertently capture minerals that do not contain any asbestos as well as products made from those minerals. To ensure that this is not the case and to put the matter beyond doubt I have brought forward this amendment bill.
The new definition of asbestos as set out in the bill will apply to both the Dangerous Substances Act 2004 and the dangerous substances general regulation. I am advised that the new definition was formulated following consultation with officers from other jurisdictions and is consistent with the advice provided by the commonwealth.
As the term “asbestos product” is no longer used, the bill also omits that definition. I am advised that most Australian legislation implementing the ban is also being reviewed and, if necessary, revised following the commonwealth’s request.
As the national leader with respect to asbestos regulation to date, the government remains strongly committed to ensuring that legislation in this area is as robust and as effective as possible. This commitment is reflected in the bill, which ensures that legislation protecting the territory community from asbestos remains effective and up to date. I commend the bill to the Assembly.
Debate (on motion by Mrs Dunne) adjourned to the next sitting.
Courts Legislation Amendment Bill 2010
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 the Environment, Climate Change and Water, Minister for Energy and Minister for Police and Emergency Services) (10.17): I move:
That this bill be agreed to in principle.
Today I am introducing the Courts Legislation Amendment Bill 2010, which contains initiatives to reduce the pressure on our Supreme Court. In May this year the government released the 2010 “Access to Justice Initiative” paper, which proposed reforms to address the backlog of cases in the Supreme Court. In that initiative I proposed structural reform to the court system. Much of the work currently
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