Page 270 - Week 01 - Thursday, 15 February 2018
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Correctional Services draws on OPCAT principles and approaches to monitoring. The ACT’s support for OPCAT ratification speaks to our proud history of legislating to protect the human rights of persons in the ACT, including our most vulnerable.
Ratification of OPCAT does not just reflect a further commitment to the prevention of all forms of torture and ill-treatment but it brings international perspectives to inform the continuous improvement of oversight of ACT places of detention. This is very fitting in a human rights jurisdiction where the Human Rights Act imports a human rights lens to the development of our laws, policies and practices.
I look forward to working with the commonwealth government further in the coming months in relation to the establishment of an NPM, which is not dealt with by this legislation. The commonwealth announced in 2017 that the commonwealth Ombudsman would fulfil a coordination role for the NPM. I expect each state and territory will be responsible for deciding on an NPM or NPMs in their own jurisdiction. The passage of this bill will ready the ACT for the UN subcommittee’s visit if it chooses to inspect any of the territory’s places of detention. I commend the bill to the Assembly.
Question resolved in the affirmative.
Bill agreed to in principle.
MADAM SPEAKER: Mr Rattenbury, have you tabled your revised explanatory statement?
MR RATTENBURY (Kurrajong—Minister for Climate Change and Sustainability, Minister for Justice, Consumer Affairs and Road Safety, Minister for Corrections and Minister for Mental Health) (12.25): Madam Speaker, Thank you for that reminder. I now table the revised explanatory statement.
Leave granted to dispense with the detail stage.
Bill agreed to.
Sitting suspended from 12.26 to 2.30 pm.
Questions without notice
Crime—robbery
MR COE: My question is for the Minister for Police and Emergency Services. In the past 12 months, at least 22 break-ins have taken place at ACT clubs. This includes robberies at the Raiders Weston club, Town Centre Vikings club, Lanyon Vikings club, Raiders Belconnen club and RUC. Many of the perpetrators of these robberies were armed. Minister, what specific steps have you taken to protect our clubs and their staff from these violent crimes?
MR GENTLEMAN: I thank Mr Coe for his question. It is an important question. It is important, of course, that we advise the Canberra community that Canberra is a safe place but we are not immune to criminal activity.
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