Page 720 - Week 03 - Tuesday, 26 February 2013
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address that to the attention of Mr Seselja—to ensure the smooth commencement of the scheme. Other changes provide for necessary funding and enforcement arrangements, in line with funding and enforcement arrangements in New South Wales.
I would have preferred to introduce these consequential amendments in 2012, together with the introduction of the Retirement Villages Bill 2012. However, at the time work had not concluded on identifying all these necessary minor amendments. In any case, the additional time has been well spent. A number of minor and uncontroversial amendments that improve the Retirement Villages Act 2012 itself have been identified, in addition to the consequential amendments.
These further amendments have been included in this JACS bill. Like the consequential amendments, they are largely technical amendments, which include correcting cross-references in the act, omitting superfluous provisions and improving terminology used in the act.
The bill also inserts a new section 15A which, like its New South Wales equivalent, deals with the closure of a retirement village where a resident remains in the premises or still has the rights and liabilities under a resident contract. This provision was initially going to be dealt with by way of a transitional regulation. However, as it could also apply to future closures, new section 15A has been prepared to deal with those circumstances.
This bill, importantly, makes some minor and uncontroversial amendments to part 20 of the act. These include ensuring that the existing service contracts are saved. The bill also omits a reference to two years for the expiry of the transitional regulations which modify part 20 so that they will expire after five years, consistent with the remainder of existing part 20.
Madam Speaker, this is an important bill. It ensures that amendments of a consequential nature and minor and uncontroversial amendments to the Retirement Villages Act will be made that will then coincide with the commencement of the scheme on 4 March. I am very excited about the commencement of this scheme and I am sure a lot of other people in the community, contrary to what Mr Seselja is saying, are certainly excited. That is the feedback that I have been getting, both from industry and also from residents, as I visit retirement villages and have the opportunity to discuss this with older people in whatever circumstances I meet them.
I believe it will bring significant benefits to retirement village residents, prospective residents and operators, who now have a level playing field between us and New South Wales and who welcome this opportunity to come and invest here.
Once again, I thank everyone who has worked so hard to bring this bill to this stage. I especially recognise Jack Simpson here. He has recently left my office to take up a legal office position in line with his studies. I take this opportunity at the same time to welcome Zara Davis, who joined us through that same cadetship. I also would like to thank my colleagues, particularly the attorney, for their support of this bill.
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