Page 1256 - Week 04 - Wednesday, 11 April 2018
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Greyhound racing—draft code of practice
MR PARTON: My question is to the Minister for Transport and City Services. Domestic animal services is currently drafting a code of practice for the keeping and breeding of racing greyhounds in the ACT. When this process was undertaken in Victoria, the government consulted with industry and other stakeholders for five solid months before presenting the code. In contrast, the Canberra Greyhound Racing Club was emailed a copy of the draft code after close of business the Thursday before Easter, with a deadline of the following Friday for feedback. Why was the local industry given just three days, effectively, to respond to such an important document? Is this standard governance practice in your portfolio?
MS FITZHARRIS: No, it is not standard practice. Indeed, it is far from standard practice. I was not aware of that. I will seek further advice. That does not strike me at all as being sufficient time for consultation.
MR PARTON: In seeking that advice I ask the minister to find out if there was specific directive to send this email to the Canberra greyhound club after close of business on the last working day before the four-day Easter break? I think the minister has actually answered my question—three days is certainly not long enough for a detailed response. But I ask for that on notice as well.
MS FITZHARRIS: Absolutely no direction from me, and I will speak with TCCS about that time frame.
MRS DUNNE: Minister, can you explain why the draft code of practice includes, without any supporting evidence, the requirement for race kennels to be a minimum of four metres square instead of the longstanding three metres square?
MS FITZHARRIS: I will take that question on notice.
ACT Health—proposed organisational changes
MRS DUNNE: My question is to the Minister for Health and Wellbeing. On 24 March you announced that you would be splitting ACT Health into two agencies, one focused on policy and the other on operational issues. Why did you not make a ministerial statement this week about your restructure of a directorate that represents one-quarter of the ACT budget?
MS FITZHARRIS: I did, indeed, answer a question—I believe it was the second question in question time—on this issue and I will be making a ministerial statement in the next sitting. As indicated yesterday, I am happy to provide further information. This is, indeed, a significant moment in ACT Health. It is a very positive one and one that brings us into line with all other jurisdictions around the country.
The decision to split ACT Health into two organisations is one that has been taken in order to allow a clear focus for health services in the territory. One organisation will have a distinct role to deliver health services to our community. The other will have a
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