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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2004 Week 01 Hansard (Thursday, 12 February 2004) . . Page.. 267 ..

Court Act 1930. The Magistrates Court Act was amended in 2001 to establish a template infringement notice scheme that can be applied to any territory act that contains offences. Regulations will be made under the Magistrates Court Act to prescribe appropriate offences in the OH&S Act as infringement notice offences.

The bill provides for the publication of details of convictions and findings of guilt, and for courts to order people convicted or found guilty of an offence to publish a statement in relation to the offence. It is now well accepted that awareness of prosecutions is essential to a credible deterrence strategy. Not only do people and businesses value their good name; publicising the outcome of prosecutions heightens community awareness of the consequences of contravening workplace safety laws. The provision for adverse publicity measures in the bill is part of the overall strategy to support compliance and appropriately sanction offenders.

The work safety compliance regime established in the Occupational Health and Safety Amendment Bill will support cooperation in the workplace in the interests of safety, while enabling appropriately strong enforcement action when necessary. The legislation, along with the new dangerous substances legislation, is testament to the government’s commitment to build a robust and modern body of work and safety legislation.

I ask the Assembly to note the Occupational Health and Safety Amendment Bill 2004. Debate (on motion by Mr Pratt) adjourned to the next sitting.

Community Services and Social Equity—Standing Committee

Proposed reference

MRS BURKE (10.44): I move:

That this Assembly refers to the Standing Committee on Community Services and Social Equity for inquiry and report by the last sitting day in June 2004 the following matter:

(1) the status of fathers in the ACT by reference to the current level of recognition of their role in family formation and child rearing and in the support given to them by the public and private sectors and the community in general;

(2) the current difficulties facing fathers in the ACT from an economic, social, financial, legal and health perspective in the formation and maintenance of the family unit;

(3) the nature and availability of government and non-government support and services for fathers in crisis in the ACT; and

(4) the way in which the status of fathers and the level of support given to them in times of crisis can be improved.

Since being elected to this Assembly, first back in 2001 and later in 2003, I have been increasingly interested in the wellbeing and welfare of men and of young boys and concerned that little importance and status is given to fathers and fatherhood in the ACT.

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