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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2001 Week 8 Hansard (9 August) . . Page.. 2641 ..


MR SMYTH (continuing):

The legislation provides for tests to be used in assessing accreditation applications. This will allow the Road Transport Authority to apply 'fit and proper' tests to applicants for operator and network accreditation.

Under the provisions of the Bill, it will be at the discretion of the Road Transport Authority to audit operators and network providers to determine compliance with the accreditation requirements and to maintain service quality and public safety.

Similar to the approach adopted in the Road Transport (Public Passenger Services) Act 2001, the Amendment Bill provides that the powers, duties, conduct, training and attire of drivers may be regulated. The legislation also maintains the power of the Minister to determine maximum taxi fares.

Two provisions previously included in the taxi legislation in the Road Transport (General) Act 1999 have not been carried over to the Amendment Bill, based on recommendations of the National Competition Policy Review. These Items are the requirement for the Minister to set a reserve price for a taxi licence and the provision limiting the number of licences that may be held by a person to two.

The Road Transport (Public Passenger Services) Amendment Bill 2001 contains significant changes to the regulatory environment for taxi services and provides the framework for the provision of services that are responsive to community needs for safe, reliable and efficient public passenger taxi services.

Debate (on motion by Mr Hargreaves ) adjourned to the next sitting.

Stock Amendment Bill 2001

Mr Smyth , pursuant to notice, presented the bill and its explanatory memorandum.

Title read by Clerk.

MR SMYTH (Minister for Urban Services, Minister for Business, Tourism and the Arts and Minister for Police and Emergency Services) (10.59): I move:

That this bill be agreed to in principle.

I seek leave to have my tabling speech incorporated in Hansard.

Leave granted.

The speech read as follows:

This Bill will increase the coverage of material banned from being fed to ruminants. Just in case any members are uncertain, a ruminant is an animal with four stomachs and which chews its cud. Sheep, cattle and goats are the obvious examples.

There is an unproven link between bovine spongiform encephalopathy known as BSE or 'Mad Cow Disease' and the variant form of Creutzfeld-Jakob Disease, which affects humans.


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