Page 4222 - Week 13 - Thursday, 19 November 2015

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the bill proposes to add a requirement in connection with decisions on applications for development approval in the impact track. The bill makes it clear that a decision must have regard to, if relevant, any exemption from the need to provide an environmental impact statement, or EIS, and associated information.

It is important to emphasise that this does not amount to additional red tape and, in particular, does not require the proponent to produce any additional documentation. These additional matters are all relevant to the impact track development assessment process and are particularly important for the consideration of environmental impacts. This amendment is minor in nature and ensures that the environmental considerations, including the EIS exemptions, are appropriately considered in the impact track development assessment process.

The bill proposes a number of minor policy, technical and editorial amendments to acts and regulations, as an omnibus bill should. The amendments make good practical sense. The bill demonstrates this government’s commitment to effective and responsible use of the omnibus bill process.

I note that in the past members of the community have expressed appreciation at being able to access one bill to monitor the minor changes that are happening to legislation in the planning, building and environment sphere. The bill also helps this Assembly to monitor the effective operation of territory laws. A single bill ensures that changes to those laws are easily accessible to all Canberrans.

I would like to thank the EPD directorate and also my officers for their work on this bill. I commend the bill to the Assembly.

Debate (on motion by Mr Coe) adjourned to the next sitting.

Workers Compensation Amendment Bill 2015

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

Title read by Clerk.

MR GENTLEMAN (Brindabella—Minister for Planning, Minister for Roads and Parking, Minister for Workplace Safety and Industrial Relations, Minister for Children and Young People and Minister for Ageing) (11.21): I move:

That this bill be agreed to in principle.

The Workers Compensation Amendment Bill 2015 is the latest instalment in the government’s ongoing program to modernise the territory’s workers compensation scheme. Members will recall, for example, our recent red tape reduction bill, which removed the need for ACT businesses to perform around 70,000 administrative transactions each year.


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