Page 5112 - Week 13 - Thursday, 29 November 2018
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video
options available to them and give them guidance on what a complaints process would entail. We all acknowledge the benefits of early resolution of issues, and the advocate will be central to encouraging the early resolution of matters wherever possible.
I wish to take this opportunity to reiterate my commitment in ensuring that ACT Health and Canberra Health Services have a workplace culture that supports its employees in delivering positive health outcomes for our community. I look forward to updating the Assembly on the implementation of the Auditor-General’s recommendations and new initiatives, as well as the independent review, as they all progress.
Radiation Protection Act—review
Paper and statement by minister
MS FITZHARRIS (Yerrabi—Minister for Health and Wellbeing, Minister for Higher Education, Minister for Medical and Health Research, Minister for Transport and Minister for Vocational Education and Skills) (3.33): For the information of members, I present the following paper:
Radiation Protection Act 2006—Review, dated November 2018.
I ask leave to make a statement in relation to the paper.
Leave granted.
MS FITZHARRIS: I am very pleased to table a report on the review of the ACT Radiation Protection Act 2006. In 1999 the state and territory governments, together with the commonwealth government, agreed to the development of the National directory for radiation protection to establish an agreed set of principles that would aid in delivering national consistency in radiation protection legislation throughout Australia. Development of the National directory for radiation protection, commonly referred to by its abbreviated title, the NDRP, was completed, and the first version of edition one published, in 2004.
The Radiation Protection Act was developed in order to give effect to the NDRP in the territory, and was enacted by this place in August 2006 and commenced operation on 1 July 2007.
In order to ensure that a nationally consistent approach to radiation protection was maintained, one of the expectations of the NDRP was that each state and territory would review their legislation after 10 years of operation. The ACT was one of just three jurisdictions to incorporate such a requirement into its legislation. Now, after a decade of operation, upon the presentation of this report to the Assembly, the ACT is the first jurisdiction to have delivered on that expectation.
The review of the operation of the Radiation Protection Act found that the act is largely consistent with the NDRP, save for minor areas which the review recommends the act be amended to address. However, the review also found that there are some significant gaps and weaknesses in the act, many of which are largely attributable to
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video