Page 2196 - Week 07 - Thursday, 7 August 2014
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Alongside our strong economic program the government will use the spring sittings to proceed with important changes to the territory’s legal framework, legislating to strengthen community safety in different situations including during bushfires, at major events and in the home.
In relation to bushfires, recommendations flowing from the ACT Auditor-General’s performance report into bushfire preparedness in 2013 will result in amendments being made to the Emergencies Act 2004. A number of amendments will be sought to ensure the safety of Canberrans who might find themselves in emergency situations including: allowances for the Director-General of the Education and Training Directorate to close non-government schools in emergency situations; harmonisation of legislative time frames associated with bushfire operational planning for rural leaseholders in the ACT; clarification of the ability of chief officers to close a private or public premise, such as a public or private school, health facility, place of work or other facility, in order to assist in the management of emergencies; a new offence regarding the discarding of lighted cigarettes, matches or incandescent material; and the expansion of the ESA Commissioner’s functions to “oversee and coordinate” as well as “participate” in strategic and operational planning for emergencies.
Given the major sporting events coming to Canberra in 2015 as we host matches in both the Asian football cup and the cricket world cup as well as the big bash final and other regular sporting fixtures, the Major Events Bill 2014 is a timely piece of legislation. It seeks to improve the legislation relating to the security, advertising and ticket protections for major sporting events. Once enacted, it will help ensure the physical safety of patrons by allowing measures for approved officers to conduct scanning and ordinary searches, allow tighter restrictions regarding re-entry of patrons who have been ejected and also prohibiting pitch invasions at specific sporting events. The bill will also include new protections for ticket purchasers.
In the home, the government will continue to seek improvements to the safety of our community through implementing recommendations made in the Violence Against Women and Children Strategy 2011-2017, Our Responsibility: Ending Violence Against Women and Children. The Crimes Legislation Amendment Bill 2014 will take important steps in protecting the right to privacy and a number of other rights under the Human Rights Act.
The government will also introduce the Crimes (Sentencing) Amendment Bill 2014 to repeal periodic detention as a sentencing option in the ACT, continuing to ensure that Canberrans enjoy the benefits of living in a community that is safe, socially inclusive and respectful of human rights. In order to manage an effective transition, the repeal of periodic detention will occur in two stages.
The government will also move to strengthen the territory’s legal architecture through improvements to the Supreme Court, Magistrates Court, and ACAT-related legislation via the Courts Legislation Amendment Bill 2014. These amendments have been suggested by justice system stakeholders including the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, the Director of Public Prosecutions, and the Victims of Crime Commissioner. The bill will create improvements to the court system and access to justice by facilitating more efficient and fairer administration in the courts.
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