Page 4309 - Week 10 - Thursday, 22 September 2011
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This change has the support of both employer and employee organisations. The Australian Security Industry Association supports the bill, as does United Voice, formerly the Liquor, Hospitality and Miscellaneous Union. I think that demonstrates that these changes are well founded. I think it also shows that ensuring the industry has probity and is well respected is in the interests of all in the industry. It is an example of where good regulation is in the interest of business because it value adds to the business rather than simply producing red tape for the sake of red tape.
I would like to put on the record one issue for the future that was raised with the Greens by United Voice. It relates to the fee that will be paid for a licence application. Currently only a one-year licence can be granted, which causes licensees to reapply every year. This bill changes that to allow the commissioner to grant three-year licences. This is fully supported by the union because it enhances security for the licensees. It allows them to plan more than one year in advance.
A point raised by the union is whether the fee will be three times as much or whether given the efficiencies gained a reduced fee will be able to be granted. The fees will be determined by a disallowable instrument, and the Greens are certainly hopeful that when the three-year fee is determined it will reflect the efficiencies. It certainly makes sense from an efficiency side of things and would make a practical difference to the workers who need a licence to be allowed to work. We will be looking closely at the next fee determination and the level of fees contained in it.
In conclusion, the Greens support the bill. It has the support of the two key stakeholders and represents reform that is in the interests of the industry and the people who rely on it for protection.
MS GALLAGHER (Molonglo—Chief Minister, Minister for Health and Minister for Industrial Relations) (12.02): The private security industry increasingly plays a critical role in the safety of our community, ensuring the safety of community members as well as protecting public and private property.
Barely a day would go by when we do not encounter a security guard in the course of our working day, our leisure time and conducting our personal business, especially where money or access to public buildings is involved. Security guards are employed in positions of trust and often work with vulnerable people on a regular basis. It is therefore imperative that the community are confident that the people who work in the security industry can meet certain standards of probity and skill.
Recognising the importance of a well-qualified and trustworthy private security industry, in 2008 the Council of Australian Governments agreed to adopt a nationally consistent approach to regulation of the private security industry. COAG agreed on a three-stage reform agenda with the first stage focusing on the probity, competence and skills of the guarding, or manpower, sector of the industry and mobility of security industry licences across jurisdictions.
The amendments contained in the Security Industry Amendment Bill 2011 complete the first stage of the nationally agreed reforms into the ACT. These amendments to
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