Page 950 - Week 03 - Thursday, 10 April 2014
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That is a very good thing for people in the ACT and it is an excellent decision from the New South Wales government to work with us on this scheme. I commend them and I commend all who have been involved in the development of this legislation for the successful operation of the scheme. It is a very important social reform for Canberrans. I commend this bill to the Assembly.
Question resolved in the affirmative.
Bill agreed to in principle.
Detail stage
MR SMYTH (Brindabella): I seek leave of the Assembly to propose amendments that have not been circulated in accordance with standing order 178A.
Leave granted.
MR BARR (Molonglo—Deputy Chief Minister, Treasurer, Minister for Economic Development, Minister for Sport and Recreation, Minister for Tourism and Events and Minister for Community Services): I also seek leave to propose amendments to the Assembly that have not been circulated in accordance with standing order 178A.
Leave granted.
Clauses 1 to 15, by leave, taken together and agreed to.
Clause 16.
MR SMYTH (Brindabella) (12.06): I move amendment No 1 circulated in my name [see schedule 1 at page 1006].
This amendment allows for a person to opt out by giving notice to the LTCS commissioner. It is important that people have the ability to determine their own affairs. If one goes to the annual reviews of the Life Time Care & Support Authority in New South Wales, which was formed in 2006, one will see that this is an issue that has arisen interstate. I think that we should all have control of ourselves. Where we are capable of doing it, we should be allowed to follow the path that we want. This allows people to exercise that right and opt out of the scheme.
MR BARR (Molonglo—Deputy Chief Minister, Treasurer, Minister for Economic Development, Minister for Sport and Recreation, Minister for Tourism and Events and Minister for Community Services) (12.07): The government will not be supporting Mr Smyth’s amendment. Amendment 1 and amendment 14 are, in effect, the opt-out amendments that Mr Smyth refers to.
The general comment I make is that the amendments that Mr Smyth has put forward are a significant divergence from similar schemes that are operating in other
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