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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2001 Week 6 Hansard (13 June) . . Page.. 1693 ..
MR CORBELL (continuing):
Mr Speaker, this legislation is essentially machinery legislation and it is supported by the opposition.
MS TUCKER (6.29): The Greens also will be supporting this bill. It basically copies the existing regulation under the Building and Services Act relating to the installation of telecommunications infrastructure which has been repealed as part of the utilities regulatory reform package. The Building and Services Act ceases on 30 June 2001, so there is a need to ensure that the regulation of telecommunications infrastructure continues after this date.
I note that telecommunications infrastructure such as phone cables tend to be placed on existing electricity poles. Canberra is fairly unique in that electricity poles have been placed at the backs of properties rather than along streets. This generates the need for specific rules in the ACT about access by telecommunications carriers and electricity utilities through private property to enable servicing of the electricity poles and associated wires. This bill gives telecommunications carriers the power to enter land under conditions, such as the need to give seven days notice to the landholder, and the requirement to minimise disruption and damage. There is also a provision allowing the landholder to seek compensation if the carrier does not restore the land to its original condition, and these seem to be reasonable controls on the carrier.
MR HUMPHRIES (Chief Minister, Minister for Community Affairs and Treasurer) (6.31), in reply: Mr Speaker, I thank members for their support for the legislation. This legislation will ensure that the increasingly complex telecommunications infrastructure which is being rolled out in this city is protected. It enhances our reputation as a clever capital, a capital capable of taking on new technology in a competent and effective way. It also particularly facilitates the roll-out of a TransACT fibre optic network, and that is a very important project for a very large number of members of our community. I thank members of the Assembly for their support for this bill.
Question resolved in the affirmative.
Bill agreed to in principle.
Leave granted to dispense with the detail stage.
Bill agreed to.
Gaming Machine Amendment Bill 2001
Debate resumed from 3 May 2001, on motion by Mr Humphries:That this bill be agreed to in principle.
MR QUINLAN
(6.32): We will be supporting this bill which extends the period of the poker machine cap. We understand that the ACT Gambling and Racing Commission has undertaken some studies and some research into gambling in the ACT. I would like to refer members to that trash that we debated earlier today. There is some discussion on problem gambling in that and a request that the ACT Gambling and Racing Commission
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