Page 56 - Week 01 - Tuesday, 12 February 2019
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In my conversations with Winnunga, for example, the new health services that we have just launched at the Alexander Maconochie Centre—Winnunga are now a primary health provider inside the AMC—are the sorts of responses we need to focus on. What that will mean is that some people who were clients of Winnunga prior to going into custody and will again be clients after being in custody will now also have access to Winnunga while they are in custody. This will promote continuity of service. Winnunga’s model is very much a wraparound one that looks at not just health but also wellbeing factors, psychosocial support and a range of other responses which, they argue—and I support their views on this—will lead to better outcomes for people who are currently involved in the justice system and ideally reduce their exposure to the justice system.
MRS JONES: Minister, why has the ACT had the highest increase in relative imprisonment of Indigenous people between 2008 and 2018?
MR RATTENBURY: As I outlined in my previous answers, there is not a singular understood reason for that. A range of factors is identified amongst academics, researchers, police and those who work in the justice system. That is why we are putting in place a range of programs to seek to respond to those factors.
Employment—secure local jobs package
MR PETTERSSON: My question is to the Minister for Employment and Workplace Safety. Minister, can you please update the Assembly on the implementation of the secure local jobs package?
MS STEPHEN-SMITH: I thank Mr Pettersson for his interest in the secure local jobs package. The ACT government has delivered on its election commitment to implement the secure local jobs package. Since the passage of the legislation last year, the code and associated guidelines have been established and a secure local jobs registrar, approved auditors and advisory council have all been appointed.
The secure local jobs code came into effect for tenders for construction, security, cleaning and traffic management services from 15 January this year. This means that each new tender for ACT government work in these categories will now require businesses to have a secure local jobs certificate, certifying that their workers are treated with respect, paid fairly and have access to representation in the workplace should they choose that access.
I am pleased to advise the Assembly that as of close of business on 8 February 2019, the Secure Local Jobs Registrar had received 224 applications for a certificate, and of these applications 179 have so far been approved. There are 20 approved auditors, able to undertake initial certification audits as well as compliance audits, to ensure that businesses continue to meet the highest ethical and labour standards.
The Secure Local Jobs Advisory Council also held its first meeting on 4 February, consisting of representatives of employees, business and government. The council is tasked with providing me with advice in relation to the operation and implementation
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