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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1998 Week 10 Hansard (26 November) . . Page.. 3083 ..

MR SPEAKER: For the information of members, I present Auditor-General's Report No. 7 of 1998, entitled "Magistrates Court Bail Processes".

Motion (by Mr Humphries, by leave) agreed to:

That the Assembly authorises the publication of the Auditor-General's Report No. 7 of 1998.

MS CARNELL (Chief Minister and Treasurer) (3.37): For the information of members, I present the statement of regulatory intent for utilities in the ACT and move:

That the Assembly takes note of the paper.

Mr Speaker, for the information of members, I am pleased to table today a very important document. This statement of regulatory intent outlines the changes this Government proposes to make to the regulation of the electricity, water and sewerage industries. The need to amend the regulation for these services arose out of the identification of a number of deficiencies in the current regulatory framework and the system breakdowns which have occurred in other jurisdictions.

Accordingly, this Government intends to implement a comprehensive and robust regulatory regime. In developing this regime we will build on the ACT's existing framework, draw from the regulation developed in other jurisdictions and, where necessary, create new ways to address specific community concerns and ACT issues.

The new framework will provide better consumer protection, monitor and maintain the integrity of water quality and electricity supply, ensure that the market operates fairly and that there are appropriate safeguards for environmental protection, public health and safety, service quality and security of supply of essential everyday services.

Mr Speaker, I believe that, at the end of the day, the new regulatory regime will provide a regulatory model for governments elsewhere in Australia and overseas. The ACT community deserves and expects no less than best practice on such important matters. It is important for both consumers and utilities to have a stable and predictable regulatory environment in which to operate. Each industry needs to be able to plan ahead knowing what standards are required and how they will be enforced. There needs to be proper identification of roles and responsibilities and the separation of regulatory and commercial functions.

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