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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2003 Week 3 Hansard (23 October) . . Page.. 3993 ..


MR WOOD

(continuing):

Part 7 of the bill contains transitional provisions to ensure that the transition from the National Crime Authority to the Australian Crime Commission is as seamless as possible. This part repeals the existing National Crime Authority (Territory Provisions) Act 1991, and makes consequential amendments to related legislation. There is no direct financial cost to the territory in implementing the bill.

This bill will result in greater cooperation and flow of information between intelligence gathering agencies and policing agencies. The government recognises that this is an important step in combating organised global crime. Organised criminal activity is not hindered by national or international boundaries. Tackling organised crime in Australia requires collaboration between state, territory and Commonwealth law enforcement agencies.

I commend the bill to the Assembly.

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

Independent Competition and Regulatory Commission Amendment Bill 2003

Mr Quinlan

presented the bill and its explanatory statement.

Title read by clerk.

MR QUINLAN

(Treasurer, Minister for Economic Development, Business and Tourism, and Minister for Sport, Racing and Gaming) (11.36): I move:

That this bill be agreed to in principle.

Mr Speaker, the Independent Competition and Regulatory Commission Amendment Bill will allow certain fees and charges affecting the cost of providing a utility or regulated service to be passed on in full to the consumers of the service without having to first go through the Independent Competition and Regulatory Commission, the ICRC. These fees and charges will be declared by disallowable instrument.

Under the Independent Competition and Regulatory Commission Act 1997, the ICRC's objectives are to:

promote effective competition in the interests of consumers;

facilitate an appropriate balance between efficiency and environmental and social considerations; and

ensure non-discriminatory access to monopoly and near-monopoly infrastructure.

One of the key functions of the ICRC is to determine the price path for regulated services. In setting the price path, the ICRC is required to have regard to the social and environmental impacts of its decision and to ensure that the price charged is equitable and transparent. Under the current act, all costs are currently considered in the ICRC


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