Page 2187 - Week 06 - Wednesday, 9 May 2012
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We need to recognise that, for some people, paying a fine would prevent them from being able to afford basic essentials such as food or rent.
I would like to acknowledge and thank the many people in the community sector who have worked on this issue and who have given support to Canberrans who are dealing with the types of issues I have mentioned today. These groups include the Alcohol Tobacco and other Drug Association ACT, Street Law—and I acknowledge that we have some of the workers from Street Law here today and I thank them for coming in—the Welfare Rights and Legal Centre, ACT Shelter, the Mental Health Community Coalition, UnitingCare, and the Domestic Violence Crisis Service. When Mr Coe said the Greens have raised issues about this, these are the sorts of groups that have raised issues about the system as well and the sorts of groups whose concerns we are acting on today with this legislation.
I would also like to acknowledge the work done by the targeted assistance panel. The panel was Reverend Gordon Ramsay from UnitingCare Kippax, Sandra Lambert from the Hands Across Canberra Foundation and Carmel Franklin from CARE. The panel recently reported on a range of ways to assist low income Canberrans and recommended changes that align with those in my legislation.
Changes made in this legislation must commence within one year. This allows time for the government to make changes to systems such as rego.act and to go through the process of developing and approving community work and social development programs. As the minister has flagged, there will be considerable involvement with the community sector. The legislation allows for the minister to set a commencement date earlier than one year if the systems are ready earlier.
Finally I thank the Parliamentary Counsel’s Office for their assistance on this bill, which has been fantastic, particularly as the passing of government legislation last week required changes to legislation today. I also thank the directorate and the minister’s office for their cooperation in working through the bill. I particularly thank Matt Georgeson in my office who put a huge amount of time and effort into this bill. The fact that we are debating it is largely because of his efforts in working through with the directorate and the minister’s office. As Mr Corbell has said, this is a very good example of where collaboration can result in very good legislation appearing before the Assembly. Again I thank members for their contributions today and particularly the government for supporting this important reform.
Question resolved in the affirmative.
Bill agreed to in principle.
Detail stage
Bill, by leave, taken as a whole.
MS BRESNAN (Brindabella) (10.57), by leave: I move amendments Nos 1 to 10 circulated in my name together and table a supplementary explanatory statement [see schedule 1 at page 2295].
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