Page 3325 - Week 09 - Thursday, 22 August 2019

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The bill amends the Magistrates Court Act, the Crimes Act, the Work Health and Safety Act and the Confiscation of Criminal Assets Act in response. We developed these amendments by working with the Director of Public Prosecutions, and they will strengthen our ability to prosecute corporations.

These amendments will mean that corporations can be committed to the Supreme Court for trial on indictment, just like individuals. These amendments will also ensure that when corporations are found to have committed criminal work safety breaches, the proceeds of those crimes can be seized under the ACT’s confiscation of criminal assets legislation.

This bill demonstrates the government’s commitment to the protection of workers’ rights in the territory. The efficient resolution of fair work matters is critical for those in our community who simply cannot afford to be underpaid, out of a job or subjected to a range of unfair treatment at work. The bill introduces a range of amendments to support access to justice for these working Canberrans and promotes the timely, inexpensive and informal resolution of disputes. This bill also ensures that corporations are on the same footing as natural persons with respect to industrial offences so that our workplace safety laws are applied as intended within the court system.

This government will keep working to deliver stronger protections for workers. I commend the bill to the Assembly.

Debate (on motion by Mr Wall) adjourned to the next sitting.

Legislative Assembly

Sitting pattern 2020

MR GENTLEMAN (Brindabella—Manager of Government Business, Minister for the Environment and Heritage, Minister for Planning and Land Management, Minister for Police and Emergency Services and Minister assisting the Chief Minister on Advanced Technology and Space Industries) (10.12): I move:

That, unless the Speaker fixes an alternative day or hour of meeting on receipt of a request in writing from an absolute majority of Members, or the Assembly otherwise orders, the Assembly shall meet for the year 2020 as follows:

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