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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2000 Week 1 Hansard (15 February) . . Page.. 127 ..

MS CARNELL (continuing):

The second significant criminal law initiative will be a Bill to re-establish a spent convictions scheme in the ACT. This is a particularly important initiative in relation to juvenile offenders. Under this Bill, persons convicted of certain ACT criminal offences will be able to deny their past convictions after a subsequent period of non-offending. Spent conviction schemes operate in a number of other jurisdictions, including the Commonwealth.

The Government will also introduce a Bill to reform the law relating to commercial and retail tenancies. This is a complex and difficult area where the balance between the rights and obligations of tenants and landlords requires readjustment and clarification. There has been an extensive consultation period during the development of this Bill, including the release, over a year ago, of an exposure draft.

Mr Speaker, to address our Olympic obligations in hosting Olympic football, and to support teams training in the ACT in the lead-up to the Olympics, the Government will also introduce the Health Professionals (Special Events Exemption) Bill. This will allow visiting health professionals to provide health care services in the Territory in connection with declared special events, without becoming registered under territory law. Development of the Act will enable the Territory to comply with obligations associated with hosting the Olympic football tournament.

Mr Speaker, following representations from the commissioner, amendments are also proposed to the Commissioner for the Environment Act 1994 to allow more flexibility in the timing of the production of the ACT State of the Environment reports.

A Fisheries Bill is proposed to reduce the impact of recreational fishing on fish and aquatic resources, provide greater protection to native fish species, address cross-border compliance issues, and align ACT legislation with inland fisheries legislation in New South Wales.

Mr Speaker, an initiative of this Government is to make use of Statute Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bills to address minor and technical matters that will tidy up and update legislation. These Bills will include amendments to the Territory Owned Corporations Act 1990 following the disposal of Candeliver's main undertakings, the Legal Aid Act 1977, and amendments to the Occupational Health and Safety Act 1989. This means that a range of minor matters will be addressed in a single Bill rather than have a plethora of smaller Bills addressing each issue independently. I believe that this is a desirable practice, as it will reduce the number of Bills before the Assembly and allow time for debate on those issues that are critical.

Mr Speaker, in tabling the autumn 2000 legislative program, the Government is again indicating to members the legislative items it considers important. I seek the cooperation of members in the timely consideration of these Bills.

Mr Speaker, I would also like to restate the comments I made at the commencement of the term of this Government for the need for open communication in legislative planning and preparation for debate in this place. Mr Speaker, I am sure that members will find the Government's legislative program extremely helpful in planning their own programs and

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