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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2002 Week 4 Hansard (11 April) . . Page.. 1030 ..

MR STANHOPE (continuing):

It agreed that, to underpin the council's commitment to reconciliation and to drive future work, trials will be undertaken in 10 communities or regions with a whole of governments cooperative, with the aim to improve the way governments interact with each other, and with communities, to deliver more effective responses to the needs of indigenous Australians.

It noted that it would continue to review progress under the reconciliation framework, with the next detail report on progress of government and ministerial councils to be provided to the council by the end of 2003.

Mr Speaker, my ministerial colleague Mr Quinlan has made a statement about the outcomes of the ministerial meeting on 27 March, to discuss the issues associated with public liability insurance. Given the importance of this matter, First Ministers also considered medical indemnity insurance, and insurance cover for terrorist acts under this agenda item.

I am pleased to report that the council endorsed the outcomes of the March 27 Commonwealth-state ministerial meeting on public liability insurance.

Additionally, the council noted that the Commonwealth has initiated a national medical indemnity forum, to be chaired by the Commonwealth Minister for Health and Ageing, on 23 April 2002.

The council noted that the Commonwealth has been undertaking consultations with key stakeholders on the withdrawal of insurance cover for terrorist acts.

There was discussion at the COAG meeting about the future of COAG meetings. The council agreed that, in addition to its normal agenda, it would have a strategic discussion of one broad national public policy at each of its future meetings. It agreed to meet at least annually and, depending on the circumstances, would meet more often if required.

In the lead-up to the federal election in October 2001, the Prime Minister announced his intention to develop an enhanced approach to dealing with transnational crime and terrorism. The summit was held on 5 April. It considered items under the general headings of transnational crime and terrorism. Those items included transformation of the National Crime Authority, strategic intelligence, modernise the criminal law in priority areas, and better tools for law enforcement.

The Premiers and Chief Ministers entered the meeting with a 12-point plan that would put in place an effective framework to deal with terrorism and major organised crime. Following negotiations with the Commonwealth, the summit developed the Commonwealth and states and territories agreement on terrorism and multijurisdictional crime. The summit's agreement substantially mirrored the plan of the Premiers and Chief Ministers.

The agreement is founded on effective cooperation between jurisdictions, and the need to build on arrangements currently in place for dealing with terrorism and multijurisdictional crime.

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