Page 1199 - Week 04 - Tuesday, 2 April 2019
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From this tragedy, governments can learn how to improve safety measures for combat sports events. We can learn to ensure that procedures are being followed through our enforcement measures and we can ensure that rules are consistent, clear and evidence based. This, of course, will not eliminate the risk of such an event occurring here in the ACT, but it helps to reduce the likelihood. The Controlled Sports Bill reflects these safety priorities and will lift the standard of our operations in line with other jurisdictions.
The integrity measures outlined in the bill directly address the issues that can exist with the sector, from our discussions with other jurisdictions and ACT Policing. Our registrations for contestants and officials will look at the number of past criminal offences and intelligence as a mitigating factor in granting registrations. This does not mean, however, that just because someone has committed a criminal offence in the past, they will automatically be precluded from registration.
The ACT government recognises that combat sports can be a great diversionary activity for some and can provide a positive pathway to fitness, discipline and social connectedness, and we do not want to take that away. The offences that will be considered as part of registration look at specific matters that will impact on the integrity and safety of combat sports. These include matters like fraud, money laundering, cheating and gambling, and offences involving assault, violence or weapon possession.
Inspectors will also be on the ground for the first time in the history of combat sports regulation in the ACT. Inspectors will play a vital role in ensuring that all safety measures are followed and will help to lift standards in the industry so that we know that corners are not being cut to avoid compliance. We will notify police of events so as to help them address any risks of criminal activity or public safety concerns. By working with ACT Policing on events we can further support their work to address criminal influences within the sector.
Lastly, I would like to thank everybody who has contributed to the development of this comprehensive bill. I would like in particular to acknowledge the contributions of the local combat sports industry, medical experts, academics, ACT Policing, and sporting experts. I thank all of you for your assistance in this process, as well as officials from sport and recreation ACT for their dedicated work in putting this bill together.
I have learned a lot about the broad variety of combat sports that will fall under this bill. I have appreciated the conversations with the sector leading up to the implementation of this bill. We have committed to continue to work with the sports sector around safety and integrity. We do not want to undermine sports participation. We want to make sure that, with combat sports registration, it applies to a designated non-registrable or registrable event.
The spot checks that will occur around this are a good thing, and parents would support that. This bill, particularly around registration, is about drawing a line around bigger commercial events. Sport and recreation will develop guidelines over the
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