Page 1384 - Week 04 - Wednesday, 6 April 2011

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some time to be in place, which has been the experience in many areas through COAG. I am proposing that we move now with those other progressive states on something that is clear, simple and has common support.

An online poll of 2,900 Australian adults, conducted by VicHealth and the Public Health Association, found that 83 per cent of people wanted to see the kilojoule content of fast food listed on menu boards, and 67 per cent said this was likely or very likely to influence their eating choices.

The ACT Greens do not believe we need to wait for possible future actions by COAG, especially given the move is simple and is already occurring elsewhere. I look forward to engaging with other parties on the bill and do hope it will gain their support.

Debate (on motion by Ms Gallagher) adjourned to the next sitting.

Residential Tenancies (Minimum Housing Standards) Amendment Bill 2011

Exposure draft

MR RATTENBURY (Molonglo), by leave: I present the following papers:

Residential Tenancies (Minimum Housing Standards) Amendment Bill 2011—

Exposure draft.

Draft explanatory statement.

I seek leave to make a statement in relation to the papers.

Leave granted.

MR RATTENBURY: I thank members for granting me leave to speak this morning to introduce the exposure draft of the bill that I have referred to. This bill inserts a new section into the current legislation which creates minimum standards for properties subject to tenancy agreements in the ACT.

The first part of the bill sets specific minimum standards for energy efficiency, water and security. The bill also creates a requirement for the minister to set other minimum standards in a range of areas such as sanitation and drainage, ventilation and protection from damp, insulation and heating, provision of water supply, electrical safety and lighting, and laundry and cooking facilities.

The bill outlines a process whereby a tenant can raise concerns with the Office of Regulatory Services, ORS, that minimum standards are not being met and can seek an order from the ORS to ensure that a landlord undertakes work to bring the property up to the minimum standard. Should an ORS order not be met, the bill also allows for the ORS or the tenant to take the matter to the ACT Civil and Administrative Tribunal, ACAT, and outlines a range of orders that ACAT can take in regard to the matter.


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