Page 2681 - Week 09 - Thursday, 8 August 2013
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Similarly, section 84(3)(b) provides that a fine enforcement notice must state that if the outstanding court fine is not paid by a stated date, being the enforcement date, the Road Transport Authority will take fine enforcement action on that date. The use of the word “by” in these provisions technically allows payment on the date of a suspension and may create confusion and technical problems with implementation. Substituting the word “by” with “before” will clarify that payment must be made on a date before the date the Road Transport Authority takes enforcement action.
A key part of the government’s commitment to creating a safer and more secure community is support for victims of crime, and it is entirely appropriate that those who offend take responsibility for assisting their victims. Since 2007, section 24 of the Victims of Crime Act has provided for a victims services levy to be imposed on adults who are convicted of an offence and ordered by a court to pay a fine in relation to the offence.
The 2013-14 budget includes an initiative to increase the levy from $10 to $30. It is expected that this initiative will raise over $9 million over four years. This will allow for full cost recovery for the operations of Victim Support ACT, which is a service that helps victims of crime cope with the impact of what has happened, and helps them access their rights and entitlements. Even after this proposed $20 increase of the levy, the ACT’s levy remains one of the lowest in the country.
The government is committed to improving legislation by making small but beneficial changes, such as those that I have outlined today. These amendments are uncontroversial but will serve to increase efficiency, clarity and effective use of resources. I commend the bill to the Assembly.
Debate (on motion by Mr Hanson) adjourned to the next sitting.
Magistrates Court (Industrial Proceedings) Amendment Bill 2013
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 Police and Emergency Services, Minister for Workplace Safety and Industrial Relations and Minister for the Environment and Sustainable Development) (10.17): I move:
That this bill be agreed to in principle.
I am pleased to introduce to the Assembly today the Magistrates Court (Industrial Proceedings) Amendment Bill 2013. The work health and safety of all workers in the territory is a high priority for this Labor government. The bill realises the government’s pre-election commitment to establish an industrial court and provide for the appointment of an industrial court magistrate to promote judicial specialisation and expertise in industrial laws by the courts. This initiative in the first year of the Eighth Assembly is an important achievement.
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