Page 2251 - Week 07 - Tuesday, 1 August 2017
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on cars. These measures will ensure that light rail drivers are held responsible and play their part in promoting safety on our roads.
This bill also deals with insurance matters for light rail. Light rail will be brought within the scope of the compulsory third-party insurance scheme that we are all familiar with. I expect it will only be in the rarest of circumstances, but if an accident involving a light rail vehicle occurs it will be dealt with in the same way that car accidents are currently dealt with. This approach ensures consistency and provides greater certainty for all parties.
This bill brings light rail one step closer to being operational. It ensures that light rail will be driven safely and responsibly on our roads, amongst cars, cyclists, buses and pedestrians. Driving down Northbourne Avenue we can all see that construction of light rail is in full swing and new developments are taking shape. Our city is changing, and it is changing for the better. It is essential that our infrastructure and, in turn, our relevant laws, keep pace as Canberra becomes more vibrant and more connected. I commend the bill to the Assembly.
Debate interrupted in accordance with standing order 74 and the resumption of the debate made an order of the day for a later hour.
Sitting suspended from 12.27 to 2.30 pm.
Ministerial arrangements
MR BARR (Kurrajong—Chief Minister, Treasurer, Minister for Economic Development and Minister for Tourism and Major Events) (2.30): Mr Gentleman will be absent from question time this week. I will be taking questions on Mr Gentleman’s portfolios, and will do my best to assist members in that regard.
Questions without notice
Bimberi Youth Justice Centre—assault allegations
MR COE: My question is to the Minister for Disability, Children and Youth. Minister, I refer to your update on youth justice in the ACT tabled today, in which you spoke of “unsubstantiated allegations” and “recent sensationalist headlines” about Bimberi. Minister, is the Canberra Times report of 25 July on an alleged assault arising from a brawl between detainees on 16 July an example of “unsubstantiated allegations” and “sensationalist headlines”?
MS STEPHEN-SMITH: That particular incident did occur. It occurred in the context of a youth justice centre that is, like all youth justice centres around the country, a complex environment where the young people coming in are some of the most difficult and challenging young people in our community. Almost all of them have experienced some level of trauma and many have learnt to use violence to express their anger, their frustration and when they have concerns. From time to time incidents will occur in Bimberi. In each case they are managed. What went on in the incident is reviewed to see if procedures can be improved. My understanding is that in this particular instance the incident was also referred to ACT Policing.
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