Page 3275 - Week 10 - Thursday, 19 October 2006
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and the other minor health portfolio made in this bill are primarily to enhance the operation of health and professional registration regulation in the ACT and to ensure a smooth transfer of health professional registration to the new health professional legislative framework. I commend the bill to the Assembly.
Debate (on motion by Mr Smyth) adjourned to the next sitting.
Children and Young People Amendment Bill 2006
Ms Gallagher, pursuant to notice, presented the bill, its explanatory statement and a Human Rights Act compatibility statement.
Title read by Clerk.
MS GALLAGHER (Molonglo—Minister for Health, Minister for Disability and Community Services and Minister for Women) (10.44): I move:
That this bill be agreed to in principle.
I present the Children and Young People Amendment Bill 2006. As members will be aware, the government has been undertaking a comprehensive review of the Children and Young People Act involving extensive community input. In March this year the Assembly passed the Children and Young People Amendment Act 2006. That amendment act was the first stage of a reform process that will ultimately see a complete rewrite of the act. This rewrite is well under way, with extensive community consultation occurring earlier this year between January and March. I will release an exposure draft of the bill for consultation later this year.
The bill that is before members today will effect a number of changes. The first of these is to remove two sunset clauses relating to, firstly, the exemption of work experience from the employment chapter and, secondly, the power to make standing orders for the youth detention centre.
The Children and Young People Amendment Act 2006 exempted work experience arrangements from the employment provisions of the act until 30 December 2006. This was to allow for detailed consideration of the policy matters related to work experience. This work has occurred and will be presented as part of the exposure draft of the larger rewrite bill.
In the meantime it is necessary to remove the sunset clause so that work experience programs for young people aged under 15 years can continue without interruption before the provisions are updated. The existing standing orders at Quamby Youth Detention Centre have been reviewed in the light of contemporary procedures and human rights requirements. These will be presented to the ACT Legislative Assembly as disallowable instruments shortly. The removal of the sunset clause will enable the existing standing orders regime to stay in place for the Quamby Youth Detention Centre and allow sufficient time for adequate legislative provisions to be established for the new youth detention centre in 2008. I commend the bill to members.
Debate (on motion by Mr Stefaniak) adjourned to the next sitting.
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