Page 814 - Week 03 - Thursday, 25 March 1993
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MR KAINE: I ask a supplementary question, Madam Speaker. I accept that the Chief Minister is probably just as concerned about this as I am, because there is a question of criminality here. First of all, documents were stolen - let us be clear about that - and, secondly, there is the question of people being appointed to the ACT Government Service, so the claim is made, without interview and without qualifications. They are very serious matters. I ask the Chief Minister how she thinks any further information is to be gleaned from this matter if there is no inquiry to determine that additional information.
MS FOLLETT: As I said at the outset and as Mr Kaine has reiterated, the document which forms the basis of this assertion is one of the Federal Opposition's documents. If they regard it as having been stolen, then it is up to them, I believe, to take the appropriate steps to inquire into that. As I have said before, if there is a question as to the method of employment of a person in the ACT Government Service, then I really do need to know who that person is before I can make any sorts of inquiries whatsoever.
Business Landlords and Tenants - Code of Practice
MS ELLIS: My question is directed to the Attorney-General. I ask: What progress has the Government made in developing a code of practice between landlords and small business tenants engaging in retail or commercial activities?
MR CONNOLLY: I thank Ms Ellis for the question. The Fair Trading Act, of course, was passed by this Assembly last year and commenced operation on 1 January 1993. We had anticipated that under that Act we would develop a code of practice to regulate the relationships between commercial and retail tenants and their landlords. On 24 March I issued a formal direction to the Director of Consumer Affairs to prepare just such a code of practice. We will in fact be advertising in the media, starting on 27 March, inviting the public to come forward and get involved in that.
We have, however, been working on this for quite some time. The fact that we issued the formal direction on 24 March should not indicate that we are starting from scratch. There has been a joint landlord and tenant and small business working party attempting to coordinate a code of practice since the middle of last year. The timetable is as follows: On 27 March there will be invitations in the media inviting public comment for four weeks. The working party will continue to examine submissions during that process. I will release the draft code in May for final consultation. In June-July we will approve that code formally under the Fair Trading Act so that it will commence operations with legal force. I would urge any persons interested in this matter to make comments to the Director of Consumer Affairs.
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