Page 3904 - Week 12 - Thursday, 29 October 2015
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As I have previously said, the suggestion from some that women seeking this service should use a more discreet entrance is, to my mind, quite repugnant. It says that women should be able to access these services but should be shamed into entering the back door. That is not the modern, progressive Canberra that we are so rightly proud of but rather that is language of cowardice and judgement that belongs to another time and certainly in another place.
I thank members for their contribution to the debate and I thank members for their support. I welcome the fact that as an Assembly we are today going to vote in support of this measure to provide a degree of privacy, decency and respect for people who are simply seeking a medical service.
Question resolved in the affirmative.
Bill agreed to in principle.
Detail stage
Clause 1 agreed to.
Clause 2.
MR CORBELL (Molonglo—Deputy Chief Minister, Attorney-General, Minister for Health, Minister for the Environment and Minister for Capital Metro) (4.58): I seek leave to move an amendment circulated in my name which was not circulated according to standing order 178A.
Leave granted.
MR CORBELL: I move amendment No 1 circulated in my name [See schedule 1 at page 3944]. I table a supplementary explanatory statement to the government amendments.
This amendment, my amendment No 1, deals with the commencement date for this legislation. I am proposing that the commencement date be no greater than six months after the passage of this bill. The reason for that is that there is a requirement for the Health Directorate to finalise the arrangements for the implementation of this bill on the operation of the exclusion zone.
There will also be a need to have final confirmation achieved in relation to the administration of penalty units that would otherwise have to be issued to individuals should they breach the provisions relating to the exclusion zone. There will also be a need for a clear communications and implementation strategy. It is not my intention to delay commencement of this legislation any later than is necessary but simply to make sure that when it is operational it is able to be implemented effectively.
The government amendment provides the time to finalise that work and provides that the minister may commence the legislation at any time, provided that it is no later than six months after passage of this bill today.
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