Page 967 - Week 03 - Thursday, 23 March 2017

Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video


Other red tape reduction amendments in the bill include the removal of superfluous regulatory requirements relating to toilets, telephones, glass washing and signage; removal of the requirement for certain low-risk venues to provide a risk assessment management plan; and clarification that company directors not directly involved in the supply of liquor are not required to hold a responsible service of alcohol certificate. These changes will make it easier for licensees to do business without compromising the achievement of the fundamental objectives of the liquor legislation.

This bill makes a number of significant changes to liquor legislation. These changes will improve the safety and vibrancy of the ACT’s night life for our community and support current and prospective licensees by removing unnecessary and outdated regulation. I commend the bill to the Assembly.

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

Order of the day No 1—discharge

MR STEEL (Murrumbidgee) (11.01): Pursuant to standing order 152, I move:

That this order of the day be discharged from the Notice Paper.

I want to make it clear that I am speaking in my capacity as a private member and not as chair of the health, ageing and community services committee. I would like to discharge the motion from notice paper, but before I do I would like to provide an explanation for the discharge.

I first raised the issue of disability employment when I brought forward this motion referring an inquiry to the health, ageing and community services standing committee late last year. As I noted on Tuesday in my standing order 246A statement, the committee has decided that it will inquire into disability employment.

I am incredibly proud that this is the first inquiry into disability employment that will be undertaken in this Ninth Assembly. This is an extremely positive step to tackle a prevalent and complex problem. Approximately one in five people in Australia identify as living with a disability.

The Australian Human Rights Commission’s national inquiry, willing to work, discovered that the ACT, aside from South Australia, had the lowest employment rate, 2.2 per cent, of people with a disability, although a report by the Australian Human Rights Commission found that the ACT was the only jurisdiction with an increase in the employment of people with a disability over the 2013-15 period. However, there is a still a great barrier for disability employment, based on misconceptions about perceived cost and effort as well as a lack of awareness and confidence on how to integrate those with a disability into the workplace.

Having a diverse and inclusive workforce aids social cohesion and also has considerable economic benefits. Meaningful work will give people with a disability a strong purpose and will aid in community integration for those with a disability.


Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video