Page 4650 - Week 13 - Tuesday, 31 October 2017
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Against that measure, Madam Assistant Speaker, I am proud to say that I am a member of a government that is getting down to business. We are building a more accessible, timely and transparent justice system. We are delivering strong measures to minimise the impacts of problem gambling, while supporting the community clubs. We are taking action to end the greyhound racing industry. Our achievements over the past year as a government demonstrate what we promised in the campaign, in this Assembly and to our community, and that is what we will deliver.
What matters most about our work in this Assembly and our work in the administration of government are the practical, real changes to life in this city. Today I would like to update the Assembly about just some of the achievements this government has delivered in the Attorney-General and regulatory services portfolios.
Ensuring that our laws are well developed, and formed with the benefit of perspectives from across government are key roles of the Attorney-General. In my first portfolio statement, I shared my belief that justice is true justice only when it is accessible, timely and transparent. One of the first pieces of legislation I introduced to the Assembly was focused on ensuring access to justice for people experiencing domestic violence. The Family and Personal Violence Legislation Amendment Bill 2017 drew on expertise from across the community to deliver a better court process for people facing violence, and in particular people who are vulnerable. It focused on the unique needs of children and the experience of vulnerable people in the legal process. That legislation was introduced within the first hundred days of this government’s term. It is an example of our comprehensive and people-centred approach to law reform.
Just some of our other significant legislative achievements include building on our commitment to marriage equality by automatically recognising under ACT law relationships that are registered in other states and territories. The practical effect of this is that when a couple in a recognised relationship comes to the ACT, their relationship will have the same legal status and privileges as a civil union.
We have better criminal laws to target drink spiking and the abuse of intimate images. Both of these reforms target behaviour that is often part of violence against women, and that this community absolutely will not tolerate. Finally, we have introduced a whole package of legislative reforms to our liquor licensing scheme to promote a safe, vibrant night-time economy. Through targeted fee reductions for small venues, red-tape reduction across the industry and funding for six more police to patrol night precincts, the government has delivered a better environment for small businesses, and a safer environment for people who are enjoying a night out.
Over the past year we have also been working to make it easier for Canberrans to interact with the government. We have been putting more of our services online, so that busy Canberrans can do simple transactions in their own time. Access Canberra now has almost 300 separate transactions available online, including online renewals for drivers licence and vehicle registration, its two highest volume transactions.
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