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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2003 Week 4 Hansard (3 April) . . Page.. 1323 ..

MR WOOD (continuing):

The bill brings the ACT hire car legislation more into line with that for other public passenger services in the ACT and New South Wales and introduces an accreditation scheme for all hire car operators and restricted hire car operators. No operator can provide services without accreditation. To gain and keep accreditation, operators will be required to meet the agreed accreditation requirements.

Accredited operators may only use licensed hire cars and licensed restricted hire cars. Accreditation standards will ensure that the industry maintains high-quality services and safety standards. The introduction of accreditation is supported by the hire car industry. The legislation confirms operator responsibility and accountability for service standards. Operators are obliged to supervise and monitor drivers. New provisions outline the actions that may be taken in relation to an accredited operator or a licence holder should there be a breach of an accreditation or regulatory requirement.

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 accreditation.

Under the provisions of the bill, it will be at the discretion of the Road Transport Authority to audit operators 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 bill provides that the powers, duties, conduct, training and attire of hire car drivers may be regulated. A modest fee regime will cover the cost of administration to establish and monitor the accreditation scheme. The fees will be reasonable.

The bill contains significant changes to the regulatory environment for hire car services and provides the framework for the provision of services that are responsive to community needs for safe, reliable and efficient public passenger hire car services.

I commend the bill to the house.

Debate (on motion by Mrs Dunne ) adjourned to the next sitting.

Tertiary Accreditation and Registration Bill 2003

Ms Gallagher , pursuant to notice, presented the bill and its explanatory statement.

Title read by Clerk.

MS GALLAGHER (Minister for Education, Youth and Family Services, Minister for Women and Minister for Industrial Relations) (10.55): I move:

This bill and the Vocational Education and Training Bill 2003 provide for revised and updated vocational education and training and higher education legislation. The bill will

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