Page 805 - Week 03 - Thursday, 2 April 2020
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We have an extraordinary challenge to respond to: the greatest challenge, I think, of any of our professional careers. This is a once in a century experience. But governments of all levels are demonstrating their critical value to communities at this time. It is important that we continue to work closely together at all levels of government as we respond to this challenge.
I thank members for their support of the bill in principle. I foreshadow that the government will be supporting, with one amendment, the amendment that the opposition leader has moved. I am very keen, as we complete this process today, to have as much unanimous decision-making by this place as possible. I recognise that it will not always be possible in every instance, but we will strive for compromise as much as we can.
I commend the bill to the Assembly.
Bill agreed to in principle.
Detail stage
Bill, by leave, taken as a whole.
MR COE (Yerrabi—Leader of the Opposition) (4.31): I seek leave to move an amendment to this bill that has not been considered by the scrutiny committee and was not circulated pursuant to standing order 178A.
Leave granted.
MR COE: I move amendment No 1 circulated in my name [see schedule 1 at page 820]. The amendment being proposed by the opposition will introduce some transparency measures to help ensure that ACT government decisions throughout this period are proportionate and can be examined. Whilst I do not think this is enough, it is the best we could do, given the very short amount of time that we had between seeing the legislation and debating it today. Under the amendment put forward, a monthly report would be provided to the Assembly by the relevant minister on measures introduced in response to COVID-19. This would allow the Assembly to monitor the effectiveness of the measures and the impact that they are having on our community.
We of course recognise the rapidly evolving nature of this public health situation and we know that significant decisions need to be, made but we are firmly of the view that significant decisions need significant scrutiny. As democratically elected officials, it is important that there are transparency measures to ensure that all the actions being taken are in the best interests of our community. The ACT government has essentially written into this legislation unchecked regulations. The powers do not necessarily end when the COVID-19 emergency declaration ends. The minister can extend this power in some circumstances for up to 12 months following. There is nothing in this bill that requires ministers to report or to otherwise inform members of the Assembly or the public at large about the COVID-19 measures and the impact that they are having on our community.
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