Page 3785 - Week 13 - Thursday, 18 October 1990
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It is the Government's intention to establish one standing ACT Consumer Affairs Advisory Committee to provide advice and community input to the Government on general consumer issues. That body, under these amendments, will be able to address matters on its own initiative and as requested by me as Minister. However, the Act as amended by this Bill will also enable the establishment of other committees, for example, for specific issues or temporary purposes. This will create a flexibility in the advice structure which is not present in the Act as it stands at present. The Government announced in July the names of the people it had invited to participate in a standing committee. This committee has met informally and has commenced its work and is looking forward to formally commencing work under the Act as amended by this Bill.
Mr Speaker, I should also mention that, in amending the Act for the purposes I have outlined, the opportunity has been taken to update and rationalise the penalty provisions of the Act. Since the enactment of the original legislation in 1973, the penalties have become unrealistic and out of date. My Law Office advises me that the penalty provisions contained in this Bill are consistent with sound legal policy and with penalties in other jurisdictions.
I have much pleasure in presenting this Bill as another concrete demonstration of the Alliance Government's commitment to consumer affairs issues. This Bill represents the delivery of a measure which will help to make the ACT's consumer laws once again among the best in Australia and I believe that the Government is to be congratulated on it. I present the explanatory memorandum to the Bill.
Debate (on motion by Mr Connolly) adjourned.
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE (AMENDMENT) BILL 1990
Debate resumed from 22 February 1990, on motion by Mr Collaery:
That this Bill be agreed to in principle.
MR COLLAERY (Attorney-General), by leave: I am indebted to my colleagues. Mr Speaker, members will be aware that I presented in the Assembly in February an exposure draft Weapons Bill 1990 and an associated Domestic Violence (Amendment) Bill 1990. Since that time I have engaged in a process of community consultation on the Bills. In particular, very useful discussions have been held with representatives of the various ACT sporting shooting organisations, with gun dealers and with other interest groups, such as the police.
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