Page 2743 - Week 09 - Thursday, 8 August 2013
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One other key piece of legislation to target equal rights in these sittings of the Assembly is the Mental Health (Treatment and Care) Act Amendment Bill 2013. The bill will align mental health legislation with national and international reforms and with the ACT Human Rights Act.
During the spring sittings, the government will also continue with a concerted set of legislative reforms that improve safety and justice in the workplace. Safety at work should not be a gamble, and whilst the government cannot supervise every worksite, we can put in place the strongest possible regulatory framework and a legal system that responds when industrial cases need attention. That is why the government will introduce the Construction and Energy Efficiency Legislation Amendment Bill 2013 (No 2). The proposed bill will amend a number of existing acts to reform the regulatory framework of the construction industry. The bill has been developed in response to past investigations into building quality in the ACT and to the full review of the Building Act which is underway and will result in more reforms during this term of government.
The Magistrates Court (Industrial Proceedings) Amendment Bill introduced today by Mr Corbell is also a central part of this agenda. For the first time the ACT will have a specialised industrial court to hear and determine work safety matters and worker’s compensation claims up to the current Magistrates Court jurisdictional limit of $250,000. With a dedicated magistrate, the industrial court will become a highly central point of knowledge and specialisation in industrial accidents and compensation.
During the spring sittings the government will continue with the economic reform agenda, which is continuing the process of growth and diversification, improving business conditions and creating a fairer and more efficient tax system. The Red Tape Reduction Omnibus Bill will bring forward recommendations from the red tape reduction panel and will honour the commitment we made last July to progress this agenda through progressive changes that the business community has identified.
The red tape reduction panel continues to consult with businesses and not-for-profits on the changes the government can make to support a diverse and prosperous private sector in Canberra. Measures to reduce red tape will be a regular feature of our legislative program during this term of office. All these bills are designed to improve equality, fairness, safety, opportunity and optimism in the community, and all reflect the core values of this government.
The program demonstrates a full program of bills to bring to the Assembly, and I commend the spring 2013 legislation program to the Assembly.
Papers
Ms Gallagher presented the following papers:
Trans-Tasman Mutual Recognition Act, pursuant to section 7—
Trans-Tasman Mutual Recognition (Commonwealth Regulations) Endorsement 2013 (No 1)—Notifiable Instrument NI2013-282, dated 16 June 2013.
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