Page 4318 - Week 12 - Thursday, 24 October 2019

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making the decision, ACAT may consider the need to minimise the possibility of criminal activity in these industries; whether the licensee has been previously found guilty or convicted of a relevant offence; and non-conviction information about the licensee.

These amendments deal with matters which raise significant public safety issues. The threshold for cancellation and the relevant offences mean that the provisions are targeted at offending that presents an unacceptable risk to community safety. These provisions are not aimed at a licensed builder or electrician who has committed a minor offence; an unacceptable risk to public safety needs to exist for these powers to be exercised.

Cancellation of a licence will result in a person not being a suitable person to hold a licence for five years unless the cancellation order is revoked earlier on the basis that the person is no longer involved in criminal activity that presents an unacceptable risk to community safety.

Madam Assistant Speaker, this bill contains a range of measures to target and disrupt organised crime and to ensure public order. I commend the bill to the Assembly.

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

Building and Construction Legislation Amendment Bill 2019

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

Title read by Clerk.

MR RAMSAY (Ginninderra—Attorney-General, Minister for the Arts, Creative Industries and Cultural Events, Minister for Building Quality Improvement, Minister for Business and Regulatory Services and Minister for Seniors and Veterans) (11.24): I move:

That this bill be agreed to in principle.

I am pleased to present the Building and Construction Legislation Amendment Bill 2019. This bill continues the series of amendments to building and related laws started in 2013 and furthers the government’s reforms under the existing improving the ACT building regulatory system reform program. The amendments in the bill are aimed at making sure the public protections in the laws can operate effectively and people involved in construction licences, including those working as part of a corporation, are accountable for work associated with their licence.

The main aspects of the bill include provisions that allow disciplinary and rectification actions to be taken in relation to a director of a licensed corporation, provisions to make directors liable for amounts owed by their licensed corporation in certain circumstances and a mechanism for enforceable undertakings relating to rectification work. The most significant of the new powers in the bill are those


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