Page 3135 - Week 07 - Thursday, 1 July 2010
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This builds on the significant investment the government has put into improving community safety, particularly in our city centres, through the installation and expansion of the CCTV network, including at places like Manuka and Kingston for the first time, Canberra Stadium and Manuka Oval. We have also put in place for the first time real-time live monitoring of the CCTV network to give police extra eyes and ears on the beat during those busy times on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights. This live monitoring has already assisted police in detecting crimes, in intervening in incidents earlier, and in assisting them with their investigations and prosecutions.
Finally, I would like to briefly mention the reforms the government is making in relation to occupational health and safety. It is always a fundamental commitment of Labor governments to properly protect workers in the workplace and to make sure they are able to return safely to their families and friends at the end of the working day.
For that reason, the government is providing additional funding to completely overhaul work safety regulation in the ACT. This includes the establishment of WorkSafe ACT as a new division within the Office of Regulatory Services, five additional inspectorate staff to give us additional capacity to deal with workplace safety and the creation of a combined position of commissioner for work safety with the head of the new job of WorkSafe ACT. This will bring the education and compliance roles together into a single function. These are important reforms.
I notice that Ms Bresnan raised the issue about the desirability of a dedicated building inspectorate capacity. This is something that I am very supportive of as well as, indeed, is the commissioner and executive director, Mr McKay. I understand that he is progressing work in relation to that type of approach.
This remains a strong budget for justice and community safety. Whether it is in tackling access to justice, improving community safety in Civic, Manuka, Kingston and other night spots around the city or improving the safety of workers in the workplace, I am pleased to commend the budget appropriations to the Assembly.
MR ASSISTANT SPEAKER: The question is that the proposed expenditure for the—
Mr Smyth: What about the—
Mr Corbell: And you are a liar.
MR ASSISTANT SPEAKER: Members, please!
Mr Smyth: He must withdraw that. He cannot say, “You are a liar.”
Mr Seselja: He just keeps saying it. He is angry.
MR ASSISTANT SPEAKER: I am sorry, if there is a point of order, I did not hear it. I was trying to—
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