Page 727 - Week 03 - Tuesday, 19 March 2019

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Anti-consorting laws have been used by the NSW anti-gangs team, Strike Force Raptor, to effectively target and disrupt outlaw motorcycle gang activity in that state.

Since the introduction of the Queensland and NSW legislation, the number of outlaw motorcycle gangs active within the ACT has jumped from one, the Rebels, to four …

Attorney, why do Canberrans have to accept less legal protection than the people in Queensland, New South Wales or anywhere else in this country?

MR RAMSAY: I thank the member for her question. The simple answer is they do not.

Mrs Jones: They absolutely do.

MR RAMSAY: I thank the member for her interjection—inaccurate, as it often is. What I can guarantee is that the legislation we have here in the ACT is effective legislation. Although there may be selective quotes, as has been the case before—the Canberra Liberals choose bits and pieces that they like to quote from different reports in different spaces—I know that there will be a substantive debate on a piece of legislation tomorrow and that the Canberra Liberals are seeking to pre-empt a number of aspects of that conversation and that particular debate, in particular in relation to laws that are within the bill that is before the Assembly. I note that we will provide laws that are evidence based and effective, and that the evidence does not support the introduction of anti-consorting laws here in the ACT.

MRS JONES: Minister, why do you persist in the claim that these laws are ineffective when other jurisdictions have found them to be effective?

MR RAMSAY: Because the evidence says so.

MR HANSON: Attorney-General, why have other Labor-led jurisdictions introduced anti-consorting laws if there is no evidence for their effectiveness?

MR RAMSAY: I will speak on behalf of this government, and this government is working specifically for the ACT. We will continue to provide legislation that is effective.

Health portfolio—workplace culture

MR PETTERSSON: My question is to the Minister for Health and Wellbeing. Minister, given that the final report from the review into workplace culture within ACT public health services has concluded, can you please update the Assembly on the findings of the report?

MS FITZHARRIS: I thank Mr Pettersson for the question and welcome the opportunity to update the Assembly on this very important piece of work. I released the final report of the independent review into workplace culture within ACT public


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