Page 2371 - Week 08 - Thursday, 6 June 2013

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Justice and Community Safety Legislation (Red Tape Reduction No 1—Licence Periods) Amendment Bill 2013

Mr Corbell, pursuant to notice, presented the bill, its explanatory statement and a Human Rights Act compatibility statement.

Title read by Clerk.

MR CORBELL (Molonglo—Attorney-General, Minister for Police and Emergency Services, Minister for Workplace Safety and Industrial Relations and Minister for the Environment and Sustainable Development) (11.14): I move:

That this bill be agreed to in principle.

Today I introduce the Justice and Community Safety Legislation (Red Tape Reduction No 1—Licence Periods) Amendment Bill 2013.

This bill will help ease the regulatory burden on a range of regulated industries by extending the maximum term for a number of licences or registrations issued by the Office of Regulatory Services. This bill extends the maximum period for those licences or registrations from the current one-year limit to a more appropriate three-year period.

This will mean that individuals and businesses in those industries will no longer have to undertake the time-consuming process of applying for annual licence or registration renewals. The bill builds on this government’s strong record in making the territory a better place to do business.

The bill supports the government’s commitment to red tape reduction by amending various legislation, including the Agents Act, Agents Regulation, Fair Trading (Motor Vehicle Repair Industry) Act and Sale of Motor Vehicles Act.

It is necessary to implement this change in policy to allow longer licence and registration periods, through legislation, as the acts amended by this bill currently specify a maximum licence or registration term of up to one year. The bill amends that maximum term to three years.

This change arises from a recommendation from the government’s red tape reduction panel. The government established the panel as part of its ongoing efforts to support a diverse and successful private sector. The panel has been given a mandate to identify regulation that imposes unnecessary burden, cost or disadvantage on business activity in the ACT, and recommend ways to remove and improve outdated, unworkable and illogical regulation.

The government’s decision to establish the panel has been warmly welcomed by the private sector. The panel includes representatives from the Canberra Business Council, the ACT and Region Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Council of Small Business. I know that these representatives appreciate and support the government’s commitment to making Canberra a better place to do business.


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