Page 4544 - Week 13 - Tuesday, 26 November 2019
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seriousness of gang-related offending and delivers a clear message that gang members are not above the law or free to commit offences with impunity.
The range of offences in this bill creates an evidence-based and human rights compliant way to target and disrupt organised crime and ensure public safety from criminal gangs. The bill affirms the government’s commitment to strong and appropriate police responses and making Canberra a safer place to live and work.
As has been noted, I propose to move several government amendments to the bill, as a result of issues that have been identified following the introduction of the bill. The amendments are largely minor and technical and they will support the effective implementation of this important suite of measures and improve the safety of the ACT community. They are, however, important improvements that come from further listening. I place on record my thanks to Ms Cody for her work in bringing a number of these amendments to fruition. I commend the bill to the Assembly.
Question resolved in the affirmative.
Bill agreed to in principle.
Detail stage
Bill, by leave, taken as a whole.
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) (11.45), by leave: I move amendments Nos 1 to 9 circulated in my name together [see schedule 1 at page 4588]. I also table a supplementary explanatory statement to the amendments. The amendments arise as a result of issues raised after the introduction and they will ensure that the scheme operates as intended. The government has worked closely with ACT Policing, Access Canberra and the Human Rights Commission to ensure that the legislation is practical and human rights compliant.
The nine amendments will ensure that the ACT’s commitment to target, disrupt and prosecute criminal gangs is clear and that the legislation operates in the way it was intended to protect public safety. All of the amendments are minor or technical. They will support and supplement the policy intent of the provisions of the bill. Amendments 1 and 7 require that ACAT must, rather than may, consider the need to minimise the possibility of criminal activity in the relevant industry when cancelling a licence. This ensures that ACAT considers the possibility of criminal activity before making a cancellation order and reflects the original policy intent of the provision.
Amendments 4 to 6 amend the definition of “person of concern” to have clearer language and remove ambiguity. This is again consistent with the policy intent. Amendments 8 and 9 will ensure that the new offence at section 187L of the Liquor Act only applies to a person currently subject to a cancellation order, again addressing ambiguity in the provision, consistent with the original policy intent.
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