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Bills

A

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children and Young People Commissioner Bill 2022

Presented by Ms Cheyne (Minister for Human Rights)—21 September 2022

This bill will establish an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children and Young People Commissioner as an independent statutory authority to promote the rights of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and young people.

• Scrutiny Report 21

ACT Teacher Quality Institute Amendment Bill 2023

Presented by Ms Berry (Minister for Education and Youth Affairs)—19 September 2023

This bill will amend the ACT Teacher Quality Institute Act 2010 and the ACT Teacher Quality Institute Regulation 2010 to validate the registration of teachers whose registration may have been invalidly issued by the Teacher Quality Institute. Amendments to be made by this bill will also give flexibility to teachers regarding the time taken to move from provisional registration to full registration.

• Scrutiny Report 35 (no comment)

Animal Management and Welfare Legislation Amendment Bill 2022

Presented by Mr Steel (Minister for Transport and City Services)—11 October 2022

This bill will amend the Domestic Animals Act 2000 by updating the legislation with operational and administrative practices already underway concerning multiple dog and cat licences, illegal breeding and desexing, advertising dogs and cats and assistance animal accreditation. The bill will also make minor and technical amendments to the Animal Welfare Act 1992 and the Animal Welfare Regulation 2001.

• Scrutiny Report 23

Appropriation Bill 2020-2021

Presented by Mr Barr (Treasurer)—9 February 2021

This bill will appropriate money for the purposes of the Territory for the financial year beginning on 1 July 2020.

• Scrutiny Report 2 (no comment)

Appropriation Bill 2021-2022

Presented by Mr Barr (Treasurer)—6 October 2021

This bill will appropriate money for the purposes of the Territory for the financial year beginning on 1 July 2021.

• Scrutiny Report 10 (no comment)

Appropriation Bill 2022-2023

Presented by Mr Barr (Treasurer)—2 August 2022

This bill will appropriate money for the purposes of the Territory for the financial year beginning on 1 July 2022.

• Scrutiny Report 20 (no comment)
• Committee considered amendments in Scrutiny Report 22

Appropriation Bill 2022-2023 (No 2)

Presented by Mr Barr (Treasurer)—9 February 2023

This bill will appropriate additional money for the purposes of the Territory for the financial year that began on 1 July 2022.

• Scrutiny Report 26 (no comment)

Appropriation Bill 2023-2024

Presented by Mr Barr (Treasurer)—27 June 2023

This bill will appropriate money for the purposes of the Territory for the financial year beginning on 1 July 2023.

• Scrutiny Report 32 (no comment)
• Committee considered amendments in Scrutiny Report 32

Appropriation Bill 2023-2024 (No 2)

Presented by Mr Barr (Treasurer)—8 February 2024

This bill will appropriate additional money for the purposes of the Territory for the financial year that began on 1 July 2023.

• Scrutiny Report 39 (no comment)

Appropriation (Office of the Legislative Assembly) Bill 2020-2021

Presented by Mr Barr (Treasurer)—9 February 2021

This bill will appropriate money for expenditure in relation to the Office of the Legislative Assembly and officers of the Assembly, including the Auditor-General, the Electoral Commissioner and the Integrity Commissioner for the financial year beginning on 1 July 2020.

• Scrutiny Report 2 (no comment)

Appropriation (Office of the Legislative Assembly) Bill 2021-2022

Presented by Mr Barr (Treasurer)—6 October 2021

This bill will appropriate money for expenditure in relation to the Office of the Legislative Assembly and officers of the Assembly, including the Auditor-General, the Electoral Commissioner and the Integrity Commissioner for the financial year beginning on 1 July 2021.

• Scrutiny Report 10 (no comment)

Appropriation (Office of the Legislative Assembly) Bill 2022-2023

Presented by Mr Barr (Treasurer)—2 August 2022

This bill will appropriate money for expenditure in relation to the Office of the Legislative Assembly and officers of the Assembly, including the Auditor-General, the Electoral Commissioner and the Integrity Commissioner for the financial year beginning on 1 July 2022.

• Scrutiny Report 20 (no comment)

Appropriation (Office of the Legislative Assembly) Bill 2022-2023 (No 2)

Presented by Mr Barr (Treasurer)—9 February 2023

This bill will appropriate additional money for expenditure in relation to the Office of the Legislative Assembly and officers of the Assembly, including the Auditor-General, the Electoral Commissioner and the Integrity Commissioner, for the financial year beginning on 1 July 2022.

• Scrutiny Report 26 (no comment)

Appropriation (Office of the Legislative Assembly) Bill 2023-2024

Presented by Mr Barr (Treasurer)—27 June 2023

This bill will appropriate money for expenditure in relation to the Office of the Legislative Assembly and officers of the Assembly, including the Auditor-General, the Electoral Commissioner and the Integrity Commissioner for the financial year beginning on 1 July 2023.

• Scrutiny Report 32 (no comment)

Appropriation (Office of the Legislative Assembly) Bill 2023-2024 (No 2)

Presented by Mr Barr (Treasurer)—8 February 2024

This bill will appropriate additional money for expenditure in relation to the Office of the Legislative Assembly for the financial year that began on 1 July 2023.

• Scrutiny Report 39 (no comment)

Assisted Reproductive Technology Bill 2023

Presented by Ms Stephen-Smith (Minister for Health)—28 November 2023

This bill will introduce regulatory requirements for the clinical practice of assisted reproductive technology (ART) by ART providers, and will provide for the establishment of a register of information in relation to donors, intended parent(s) who use the donation for ART treatment, and the donor-conceived person born as a result of the donation.

• Scrutiny Report 38
• Government response in Scrutiny Report 40

B

Background Checking Legislation Amendment Bill 2022

Presented by Ms Stephen-Smith (Minister for Families and Community Services)—20 October 2022

This bill will amend the Children and Young People Act 2008 and the Working with Vulnerable People (Background Checking) Act 2011 by extending the application of the Working with Children Checks and the National Disability Insurance Scheme Worker Screening Check disqualifying offences to correspond with interstate offences and historic offences. The bill supports the continued alignment with the recommendations of the Royal Commission into Institutional Response to Child Sexual Abuse and clarifies processes by removing access to the external merits review provision for applicants with Class A disqualifying offences. The bill will also provide the director-general with the ability to defer the Working With Vulnerable People (WWVP) Registration requirement for approved carers in exceptional circumstances and addresses technical and operational issues to ensure that the WWVP Scheme is operating as intended.

• Scrutiny Report 23

Bail Amendment Bill 2021

Presented by Mr Hanson—5 August 2021

This bill will amend the Bail Act 1992 by extending the list of offences that do not have the presumption for bail to include assaults on frontline community service providers as defined in the Crimes Act 1900.

• Scrutiny Report 8
• Private Member's response in Scrutiny Report 9

Bail Amendment Bill 2023

Presented by Dr Paterson—28 June 2023

This bill will amend the Bail Act 1992 by introducing the offences of culpable driving, driving at the police, and an offence against the Road Transport (Safety and Traffic Management) Act 1999 – furious, reckless or dangerous driving.

• Scrutiny Report 32
• Private Member’s response in Scrutiny Report 35

Biosecurity Bill 2023

Presented by Ms Vassarotti (Minister for the Environment)—10 May 2023

This bill will introduce a legislative framework to support the effective management of biosecurity risks and impacts in the Territory, consistent with the requirements of the ACT Government’s Biosecurity Strategy 2016‑2026, the ACT’s regional and geographic context, and the ACT Government’s national biosecurity obligations and commitments.

• Scrutiny Report 29
• Government response in Scrutiny Report 35
• Committee considered amendments in Scrutiny Report 36

Biosecurity Legislation Amendment Bill 2024

Presented by Ms Vassarotti (Minister for the Environment, Parks and Land Management)—7 February 2024

This bill will make minor, consequential and technical amendments to several Territory laws that relate to the management of biosecurity risk to support the implementation of the Biosecurity Act 2023.

• Scrutiny Report 39

Births, Deaths and Marriages Registration Amendment Bill 2023

Presented by Ms Cheyne (Minister for Human Rights)—20 September 2023

This bill will amend the Births, Deaths and Marriages Registration Act 1997 and the Births, Deaths and Marriages Registration Regulation 1998 by removing administrative barriers for transgender and gender diverse people seeking to change their registered sex and/or name, and to reduce barriers for parents with sole parental responsibility to change the registered name and/or sex of their child.

• Scrutiny Report 35
• Government response in Scrutiny Report 37 and Scrutiny Report 39
• Committee considered amendments in Scrutiny Report 38 and Scrutiny Report 39

Building and Construction Legislation Amendment Bill 2023

Presented by Ms Vassarotti (Minister for Sustainable Building and Construction)—14 September 2023

This bill will amend various pieces of Territory legislation to provide clarity around building and construction processes and increase safety through ensuring that there is proper oversight and regulation of building, electrical, gasfitting and plumbing work. The bill will also make minor and technical amendments to the ACT’s building regulatory system.

• Scrutiny Report 35
• Government response in Scrutiny Report 38

Building (Swimming Pool Safety) Legislation Amendment Bill 2023

Presented by Ms Vassarotti (Minister for Sustainable Building and Construction)—30 August 2023

This bill will amend swimming pool safety legislation to establish a regulatory framework that requires home swimming pools and spas to have a barrier compliant with current prescribed safety standards, and will impose requirements for the compliance status of a swimming pool or spa to be disclosed on sale of a property. The bill will also amend legislation to impose requirements to maintain swimming pool and spa barriers and prevent access to swimming pools and spas when not in use, and will impose offences for failing to comply with the regulatory framework. The bill will provide an exemption pathway from compliance with prescribed safety standards and provide for a compliance certificate framework.

• Scrutiny Report 34
• Government response in Scrutiny Report 36 and Scrutiny Report 37
• Committee considered amendments in Scrutiny Report 36

C

Carers Recognition Bill 2021

Presented by Ms Orr—23 June 2021

This bill aims to recognise, promote, and value the role of unpaid carers within the community, by putting in place measures requiring certain entities and organisations to consider and adapt business practices to support the care relationship that exists between carers and the people they care for.

• Scrutiny Report 7
• Private Member's response in Scrutiny Report 9

Cemeteries and Crematoria Amendment Bill 2024

Presented by Ms Cheyne (Minister for City Services)—20 March 2024

This bill will amend the Cemeteries and Crematoria Act 2020 to clarify an ambiguity regarding the responsibility for long-term maintenance of cemetery and crematoria facilities after they are closed. Provisions included in the bill will state that the Territory, and not the ACT Cemeteries and Crematoria Authority, is responsible for the ongoing maintenance of cemeteries and crematoria facilities in perpetuity after they stop operating. The bill will require that perpetual care trust funds may only be used for long-term maintenance of closed facilities.

• Scrutiny Report 40 (no comment)

Children and Young People Amendment Bill 2023

Presented by Ms Stephen-Smith (Minister for Families and Community Services)—29 August 2023

This bill will amend the Children and Young People Act 2008 to provide for safety, welfare and wellbeing of, and the provision of services, to children and young persons and establish principles and key responsibilities governing child protection intervention. The amendments to the Act include adjusting the focus of the legislation and functions of the director-general to align with a family support-oriented service system. The bill will also: recognise the importance of self-determination for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as Australia’s first peoples; insert the five elements of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Child Placement Principle, and include them as ‘best interests’ considerations for decisions about children and young people; reorganise concepts of abuse and neglect toward an overarching concept of ‘significant harm’; provide guidance on factors to consider in making a decision about ‘best interests’; and implement amendments to Chapter 19A of the Act relating to the Children and Young People Death Review Committee.

• Scrutiny Report 34
• Government response in Scrutiny Report 37

Children and Young People Amendment Bill 2024

Presented by Ms Stephen-Smith (Minister for Children, Youth and Family Services)—6 February 2024

This bill will amend the Children and Young People Amendment Act 2023 by delaying the automatic commencement of the Act from 31 March 2024 to 1 July 2024.

• Scrutiny Report 39 (no comment)

Children and Young People Amendment Bill 2024 (No 2)

Presented by Ms Stephen-Smith (Minister for Children, Youth and Family Services)—19 March 2024

This bill will amend Territory laws relating to the safety and wellbeing of children and young people by introducing reforms in a number of areas including improved extended support for young care leavers, the incorporation of charters in the Children and Young People Act 2008, and the establishment of an external merits review process.

• Scrutiny Report 40

Circular Economy Bill 2023

Presented by Mr Steel (Minister for Transport and City Services)—30 August 2023

This bill will repeal the Plastic Reduction Act 2011 and associated subordinate legislation, andestablish a flexible and buildable legislative framework to support the transition to a circular economy in the ACT. The object of the bill is to minimise waste generation, maximise reuse and recovery resources, reduce the harm of plastic and other waste on the natural and built environment and on public health and encourage improvements in manufacturing practices to rely more heavily on renewable, reusable and non-toxic resources.

• Scrutiny Report 34 and Scrutiny Report 39
• Government response in Scrutiny Report 36

City Renewal Authority and Suburban Land Agency Amendment Bill 2021

Presented by Ms Berry (Minister for Housing and Suburban Development)—6 October 2021

This bill will amend the City Renewal Authority and Suburban Land Agency Act 2017 to alter the definition of ‘land’ in the Act to remove limitations on the operations of the Suburban Land Agency where the leasehold system is used. The bill will also remove references to ‘leases’ to ensure that, if needed in the future, the Agency has the legal authority to buy and sell land in New South Wales.

• Scrutiny Report 10 (no comment)

Civil Law (Sale of Residential Property) Amendment Bill 2021

Presented by Mr Rattenbury (Attorney-General)—9 November 2021

This bill will amend the Civil Law (Sale of Residential Property) Act 2003 to provide additional protection to buyers who purchase a residential property off-the-plan by imposing conditions on the use of certain rescission clauses in off-the-plan contracts. The bill will also provide that a seller may apply for an order from the ACT Supreme Court permitting the rescission of the contract due to a delay event or sunset event, however, the seller must satisfy the Court that the order sought is just and equitable. Amendments to the Act also include a regulation-making power to prescribe additional circumstances in which the rescission of an off-the-plan property purchase contract may occur.

• Scrutiny Report 11
• Government Response in Scrutiny Report 12

Civil Law (Sale of Residential Property) Amendment Bill 2021

Presented by Mr Cain—9 November 2021

This bill will amend the Civil Law (Sale of Residential Property) Act 2003 by requiring a unit seller to obtain a buyer’s consent before ending an off-the-plan property contract using a sunset clause. The bill proposes that if consent is not given, the seller would be required to apply to the Supreme Court of the ACT to justify termination.

• Scrutiny Report 11 (no comment)

Civil Law (Wrongs) Amendment Bill 2021

Presented by Mr Rattenbury (Attorney-General)—12 May 2021

This bill will amend the Civil Law (Wrongs) Act 2002 to enact, in the ACT, the Model Defamation Amendment Provisions 2020 to ensure that defamation law aligns more closely with community expectations in relation to what should and should not be allowed. The amendments will include introducing a serious harm threshold and a single publication rule and will also provide for certain individuals to be counted as employees of a corporation. The bill also includes amendments clarifying the concerns notice procedure, the procedure for offers to make amends and introducing a new public interest defence. The amendments will also clarify that the cap on damages for non-economic loss operates as a scale and that aggravated damages are awarded separately for damages for non-economic loss.

• Scrutiny Report 5

Civil Law (Wrongs) Amendment Bill 2024

Presented by Mr Rattenbury (Attorney-General)—7 February 2024

This bill will amend the Civil Law (Wrongs) Act 2002 to modernise and strengthen model defamation laws by exempting digital intermediaries and search engines from liability in defamation law, introduce a new “innocent dissemination” defence for digital intermediaries, and empower courts in defamation proceedings to make orders requiring a digital intermediary to remove or block access to defamatory content. The bill will require courts to consider the object of uniform defamation laws, and any relevant privacy, safety and public interest considerations, when making preliminary discovery orders to assist plaintiffs to identify potential defendants. Amendments to the Civil Law (Wrongs) Act will also include amending the requirements under existing defamation law for “offers to make amends”, and extend the defence of absolute privilege in defamation law to disclosures made to the police, the ACT Human Rights Commission or other statutory bodies with functions that involve dealing with disclosures of criminal or unlawful conduct or that may receive disclosures of such conduct from vulnerable people.

• Scrutiny Report 39

Climate Change and Greenhouse Gas Reduction Amendment Bill 2022

Presented by Mr Rattenbury (Minister for Water, Energy and Emissions Reduction)—9 June 2022

This bill will amend the Climate Change and Greenhouse Gas Reduction Act 2010 by including provisions to limit offsetting activities and to require the Minister to consult the ACT Climate Change Council in determining offsetting activities and when setting or changing any interim emissions reduction targets. The bill also refines the functions of the Minister to ensure the aim of the primary legislation remains to be developing and delivering effective action on climate change mitigation and adaptation and to require the Minister to report on actions taken to address or adapt the impacts of climate change. Further amendments made to the Act by this bill include the requirement of a five-yearly independent assessment of policies, clarifying the general membership of the ACT Climate Change Council, including provisions to encourage community and private sector engagement and the expansion of the scope for potential sector agreements.

• Scrutiny Report 18
• Committee considered amendments in Scrutiny Report 20

Climate Change and Greenhouse Gas Reduction (Membership) Amendment Bill 2024

Presented by Mr Rattenbury (Minister for Water, Energy and Emissions Reduction)—8 February 2024

This bill will amend the Climate Change and Greenhouse Gas Reduction Act 2010 by increasing the representation of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community on the ACT Climate Change Council.

• Scrutiny Report 39 (no comment)

Climate Change and Greenhouse Gas Reduction (Natural Gas Transition) Amendment Bill 2022

Presented by Mr Rattenbury (Minister for Water, Energy and Emissions Reduction)—4 August 2022

This bill will amend the Climate Change and Greenhouse Gas Reduction Act 2010 by including a regulation-making power to limit new natural gas connections in prescribed circumstances. The bill will also include a mechanism to modify the national energy laws in relation to new natural gas connections, require the Chief Planning Executive’s advice to be sought and considered before making regulations and make compliance with the legislation a condition of the gas distributor’s utility licence.

• Scrutiny Report 20
• Government response in Scrutiny Report 24

COAG Legislation Amendment Bill 2021

Presented by Mr Barr (Chief Minister)—4 August 2021

This bill will amend a number of Territory statutes by amending outdated references to the Council of Australian Governments (COAG), former COAG ministerial forums and councils and any associated bodies to reduce any potential legal risks posed by these outdated references. The bill will include flexible amendments to allow changes to the names of national and interjurisdictional minister level forums without the need for subsequent legislative amendments.

• Scrutiny Report 8
• Government Response in Scrutiny Report 10

Corrections and Sentencing Legislation Amendment Bill 2022

Presented by Mr Gentleman (Minister for Corrections)—30 November 2022

This bill will amend the Territory’s corrections management and sentencing laws to improve the administration of corrective services and community-based sentences. Amendments made by this bill include giving authorisation to the Director-General of the Justice and Community Services Directorate to declare the entirety of correctional centres to be smoke free and will also address how searches will be undertaken on visitors and detainees. The amendments in this bill will also provide a structured framework to allow interstate community-based sentences to be transferred to the ACT and to ensure minor infractions of Good Behaviour Orders do not result in potential court sanctions. Amendments will also strengthen laws to combat the potential use of drones to deliver prohibited items to correctional centres.

• Scrutiny Report 25
• Government Response in Scrutiny Report 30

Corrections Management Amendment Bill 2021

Presented by Mrs Kikkert—25 November 2021

This bill will amend the Corrections Management Act 2007 to strengthen the legislation prohibiting items to be delivered into a correctional centre.

• Scrutiny Report 12 (no comment)

Courts and Other Justice Legislation Amendment Bill 2021

Presented by Mr Rattenbury (Attorney-General)—20 April 2021

This bill will make a number of minor and technical amendments to Territory laws relating to the operations and procedures of ACT courts and tribunals. The bill also includes amendments to enhance access to justice for victims of financial abuse and proposes reforms to support the functions of the Public Trustee and Guardian and the ACT Judicial Council.

• Scrutiny Report 4
• Government response in Scrutiny Report 6

Courts Legislation Amendment Bill 2023

Presented by Mr Rattenbury (Attorney-General)—27 June 2023

This bill will make amendments to Territory laws relating to the ACT court operations. The bill removes the position of Associate Judge under the Supreme Court Act 1993, and extends the maximum term of the appointment of an Acting Judge from 12 months to two years. The bill will also clarify that common law immunity of Supreme Court judges applies to ACT magistrates, as well as registrars and deputy registrars when exercising delegated court functions, under the Magistrates Court Act 1930. Amendments made to the Court Procedures Act 2004 will enable the Court Procedures Rules 2006 to provide courts with the power to order costs against non-parties to proceedings.

• Scrutiny Report 32

COVID-19 Emergency Response (Check-in Information) Amendment Bill 2021

Presented by Ms Stephen-Smith (Minister for Health)—4 August 2021

This bill will amend the COVID-19 Emergency Response Act 2020 to exclusively reserve personal information collected through the use of the Check In CBR app (the app) for contract tracing purposes and compliance with its provisions. The bill will entrench into the Act that personal information collected about individuals by the app is provided to and stored by ACT Health, is stored for 28 days and then deleted, unless the person is subject to an investigation or prosecution for failing to comply with a public heath direction and can only be used for contract tracing and contract tracing compliance purposes.

• Scrutiny Report 8
• Government response in Scrutiny Report 9

COVID-19 Emergency Response Legislation Amendment Bill 2020 (No 3)

Presented by Mr Barr (Chief Minister)—2 December 2020

This bill will amend a number of Territory statutes to extend certain existing COVID-19 legislative measures adopted due to the COVID-19 pandemic emergency. The measures will be in place for the duration of the COVID‑19 emergency.

• Scrutiny Report 1
• Government response in Scrutiny Report 4

Crimes Legislation Amendment Bill 2020

Presented by Mr Rattenbury (Attorney-General)—3 December 2020

This bill will amend a number of Territory laws including the Confiscation of Criminal Assets Act 2003 to clarify legislation provisions that apply to applications for exclusion orders for property subject to an unexplained wealth restraining order. The Crimes (Sentencing Administration) Act 2005 will also be amended to create a clear mechanism to bring offenders before an appropriate court to consider whether to cancel an intensive correction order where an offender has committed and been convicted or found guilty of a new offence that is punishable by imprisonment. Amendments to the Criminal Code 2002 will be made to correct an anomaly in the definition of ‘threatening act’ for the offence of serious vilification and amendments to the Magistrates Court Act 1930 will be made to allow defendants to appeal against conviction in the Magistrates Court up to 28 days after sentence.

• Scrutiny Report 1
• Committee considered amendments in Scrutiny Report 2
• Government response in Scrutiny Report 3

Crimes Legislation Amendment Bill 2021

Presented by Mr Rattenbury (Attorney-General)—24 June 2021

This bill makes necessary changes to ACT legislation to improve the clarity and effective operation of criminal justice legislation. The bill amends several acts to support efforts to keep vulnerable people safe, to support police in the field and to ensure that the criminal justice system functions in line with the ACT community’s expectations.

• Scrutiny Report 7
• Government response in Scrutiny Report 8

Crimes Legislation Amendment Bill 2022

Presented by Mr Rattenbury (Attorney-General)—23 November 2022

This bill will amend a number of Territory Acts to improve the operation of the criminal justice system by introducing two new criminal offences including the prohibition of the public display of Nazi symbols and the unauthorised entry of a motor vehicle. The bill provides that an offender’s residence outside the ACT must be taken into account as a matter indicating their unsuitability to serve their sentence by way of an intensive correction order, under the Crimes (Sentence Administration) Act 2005, and also makes amendments to that Act to support ACT Courts to recover outstanding court fine amounts. The bill will ensure that the ACT Childrens Court can deal with aggravated burglary and robbery offences summarily without prosecution consent.

• Scrutiny Report 25

Crimes Legislation Amendment Bill 2023

Presented by Mr Rattenbury (Attorney-General)—26 October 2023

This bill will amend a number of Territory Acts to support the efficient and effective functioning of the ACT criminal justice system. The Bail Act 1992 will be amended to address an anomaly in timeframes in relation to the period for which a bail decision is stayed when an application is made for a review of bail, with amendments to the Confiscation of Criminal Assets Act 2003 being made to require a statutory review of the unexplained wealth scheme three years after the 2022 Review. Amendments will also be made to the Crimes (Sentencing) Act 2005 to allow a non-parole period to be set for offences committed in custody, and to clarify that the court may impose a fine in addition to, or instead of, any other sentence. The Crimes Act 1900 will be amended to remove the element requiring the prosecution to prove that damage to property does not exceed $5000 in the minor property damage offence. Amendments to be made to the Juries Act 1967 will include introducing an offence for juror misconduct, and to also introduce a model for majority verdicts by juries. Amendments will be made to the Magistrates Court Act 1930 to improve the enforceability of infringement notice offences. Amendments being made to the Victims of Crime Act 1994 and the Crimes (Sentencing) Regulation 2006 will update relevant references to the new title of Domestic, Family and Sexual Violence Coordinator-General.

• Scrutiny Report 37

Crimes Legislation Amendment Bill 2024

Presented by Mr Rattenbury (Attorney-General)—7 February 2024

This bill will amend criminal law legislation to support the efficient and effective functioning of the criminal justice system in the Territory. The bill will amend the Bail Act 1992 to empower the court to order bail conditions when a person appears before the court in response to a summons or court attendance notice, and to extend the permitted time limits for a charged person to be brought to the court in certain circumstances. Amendments to be made to the Crimes (Child Sex Offenders) Act 2005 will update the list of offences that trigger an obligation to register as a child sex offender. The Crimes (Sentence Administration) Act 2005 will be amended to increase the number of Sentence Administration Board appointees, with amendments to the Crimes Act 1900 clarifying the definition of “serious offence” in section 300. Technical amendments to crime law legislation will also be made.

• Scrutiny Report 39

Crimes (Consent) Amendment Bill 2022

Presented by Dr Paterson—8 February 2022

This bill will amend the Crimes Act 1900 by outlining the principles of sexual consent, providing a meaning of consent, articulating a set of circumstances under which consent is not deemed given and also introduces the concept of reasonable belief in relation to a person’s consent.

• Scrutiny Report 13
• Private Member’s Response in Scrutiny Report 16

Crimes (Disclosure) Legislation Amendment Bill 2024

Presented by Mr Rattenbury (Attorney-General)—10 April 2024

This bill will amend the Court Procedures Act 2004, the Magistrates Court Act 1930 and the Evidence (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1991 to legislate the scope regarding the prosecution’s obligation of evidence disclosure, including providing the court with sanction options for non-compliance, and to update protected confidence laws to bring the ACT in line with other Australian jurisdictions.

Crimes (Policing) Legislation Amendment Bill 2021

Presented by Mr Gentleman (Minister for Police and Emergency Services)—1 December 2021

This bill will amend a number of Territory statutes by enhancing the ability of ACT Policing to protect the lives and sexual safety of children by providing higher levels of compliance with reporting obligations by those convicted of child sex offences. The bill will also make amendments to firearms legislation by introducing a permanent amnesty so that a person will not face penalty under an offence provision if unregistered firearms are surrendered to police. The bill includes provisions for the Firearms Registrar to destroy or dispose of firearms surrendered under the amnesty, without requiring a court order to do so.

• Scrutiny Report 12

Crimes (Sentence Administration) Amendment Bill 2024

Presented by Ms Davidson (Minister for Corrections and Justice Health)—11 April 2024

This bill will amend the Crimes (Sentence Administration) Act 2005 to allow for crediting of community service work hours in specific circumstances for people serving sentences under Intensive Correction Orders and Good Behaviour Orders.

Crimes (Sentencing) Amendment Bill 2024

Presented by Dr Paterson—20 March 2024

This bill will amend the Crimes (Sentencing) Act 2005 to insert a new section into the Act that allows the court to consider a submission made by any party in a proceeding in regard to sentencing.

• Scrutiny Report 40

Crimes (Stealthing) Amendment Bill 2021

Presented by Ms Lee—22 April 2021

This bill will amend the Crimes Act 1900 to define stealthing as a factor that would negate consent.

• Scrutiny Report 4
• Private Member’s Response in Scrutiny Report 10

D

Disability Inclusion Bill 2024

Presented by Ms Orr—8 February 2024

This bill will promote disability inclusion in the ACT by establishing a requirement for the Government to develop and review a suite of disability strategies to address and remove barriers across a range of priority areas.

• Scrutiny Report 39

Discrimination Amendment Bill 2022

Presented by Ms Cheyne (Minister for Human Rights)—30 November 2021

This bill will amend the Discrimination Act 1991 by introducing provisions to modernise discrimination law protections and ensure they align with the Territory’s Human Rights Act 2004. The bill will amend discrimination law to support best practice in promoting equal opportunity, respect for diversity and social inclusion in the community by expanding the areas of public life in which discrimination and sexual harassment are unlawful.

• Scrutiny Report 25

Domestic Animals Legislation Amendment Bill 2021

Presented by Mr Steel (Minister for Transport and City Services)—31 March 2021

This bill will amend legislation about domestic animals by introducing a requirement for dogs to be registered annually in the Territory from July 2021.

• Scrutiny Report 3
• Government response in Scrutiny Report 5

Domestic Animals Legislation Amendment Bill 2022

Presented by Mr Steel (Minister for Transport and City Services)—10 February 2022

This bill will amend domestic animal legislation by introducing a requirement for newly acquired cats to be contained to a premises for their lifetime and to require all cats to be registered annually in the ACT.

• Scrutiny Report 13
• Government response in Scrutiny Report 14

Domestic Violence Agencies Amendment Bill 2021

Presented by Ms Berry (Minister for the Prevention of Domestic and Family Violence)—23 June 2021

This bill will establish the domestic and family violence death review function in the ACT. The review mechanism aims to take a system-wide perspective and make recommendations to improve responses to domestic and family violence in relation to policy, procedures, legislation, system and services, data collection and management, and public awareness.

• Scrutiny Report 7
• Government response in Scrutiny Report 9

Domestic Violence Agencies Amendment Bill 2022

Presented by Ms Berry (Minister for the Prevention of Domestic and Family Violence)—24 March 2022

This bill will amend the Domestic Violence Agencies Act 1986 by introducing provisions to bring the Act’s objectives and functions in line with the current domestic and family violence policy and service landscape. These provisions will include reforms to the Domestic Violence Prevention Council to ensure it continues to guide and improve the ACT’s response to domestic and family violence. The bill will also make consequential amendments to a number of other ACT statues.

• Scrutiny Report 15

Domestic Violence Agencies (Information Sharing) Amendment Bill 2023

Presented by Ms Berry (Minister for the Prevention of Domestic and Family Violence)—30 November 2023

This bill will amend the Domestic Violence Agencies Act 1986 by creating a legislative framework that clearly authorises information sharing between prescribed information sharing entities where necessary to establish, assess, prevent, reduce and manage the risk of domestic and family violence.

• Scrutiny Report 38

Drugs of Dependence (Personal Use) Amendment Bill 2021

Presented by Mr Pettersson—11 February 2021

This bill will amend the Drugs of Dependence Act 1989 to rename the Simple Cannabis Offence Notice Scheme to the Simple Drug Offence Notice Scheme and add other common illicit drugs to the diversionary pathway.

• Scrutiny Report 2
• Committee considered amendments in Scrutiny Report 19
• Government Response in Scrutiny Report 20
• Committee considered amendments in Scrutiny Report 21

E

Education Amendment Bill 2022

Presented by Ms Berry (Minister for Education and Youth Affairs)—7 April 2022

This bill will amend the Education Act 2004 and the Education Regulation 2005 to revise the registration and registration review requirements for non-government schools. The bill will also make amendments to the legislation to clarify the definitions of suspensions, transfers, expulsions and exclusions as well as strengthening reporting requirements for all schooling sectors. The bill makes consequential amendments to a number of Territory Acts.

• Scrutiny Report 15
• Government response in Scrutiny Report 17
• Committee considered amendments in Scrutiny Report 17
• Government Response in Scrutiny Report 20

Education Amendment Bill 2024

Presented by Ms Berry (Minister for Early Childhood Development)—9 April 2024

This bill will amend the Education Act 2004 and the Education Regulations 2005 to provide a high-quality education while ensuring the safety and wellbeing of young people by modernising student participation and attendance requirements, outlining distance education requirements, strengthening provisions to minimize the risk of students disappearing from the system, improving the clarity of the Act and reducing the administrative burdens.

Education (Early Childhood) Legislation Amendment Bill 2023

Presented by Ms Berry (Minister for Education and Youth Affairs)—26 October 2023

This bill will amend the Education Act 2004, the ACT Teacher Quality Institute Act 2010 and the ACT Teacher Quality Institute Regulation 2010. The Education Act 2004 will be amended to: recognise children start learning from birth, and the importance of quality early childhood education in the two years prior to compulsory education; make provision for the Education Directorate to support attendance for children enrolled in, but not attending, government preschool programs; and include principles for collaboration and cooperation to encourage information sharing relating to a child’s education and care. Amendments to the ACT Teacher Quality Institute Act 2010 and the ACT Quality Institute Regulation 2010 will: enable registration of early childhood teachers; expand provisions that protect child safety; allow for the issuing of digital registration cards; authorise the Teacher Quality Institute (TQI) to suspend a teacher’s registration or a permit holder’s permit to teach immediately under certain circumstances; and enable the TQI to issue a written notice to a teacher on the granting of teacher registration or to a permit holder on the approval of their permit to teach.

• Scrutiny Report 37

Education and Care Services National Law (ACT) Amendment Bill 2024

Presented by Ms Berry (Minister for Early Childhood Development)—10 April 2024

This bill will amend the Education and Care Services National Law (ACT) 2011 to give effect to the 2019 National Quality Framework Review, make minor changes to tabling provisions, and for the national law adopt historic technical amendments and improve consistency with terminology across the National Law.

Electoral Amendment Bill 2021

Presented by Mr Davis and Mr Braddock—2 December 2021

This bill will amend the Electoral Act 1992 to lower the mandatory voting age from 18 to 16 years of age.

• Scrutiny Report 12
• Committee considered amendments in Scrutiny Report 32
• Private Member’s Response in Scrutiny Report 34

Electoral and Road Safety Legislation Amendment Bill 2023

Presented by Mr Steel (Special Minister of State)—29 June 2023

This bill will amend the Territory’s electoral and road safety legislation. Amendments to the Electoral Act 1992 will: enhance the financial and donation reporting requirements by banning donations from foreign entities and introduce real time political donation reporting; improve access and remove barriers to voting; and support administrative efficiencies for Elections ACT to deliver elections and for political parties to meet their obligations under the Act. The bill will also strengthen rules around authorisation statements for the dissemination of electoral matter and party name registration. The bill will amend the Public Unleased Land Act 2013, the Road Transport (Offences) Regulation 2017 and the Road Transport (Offences) Regulation 2005 to further restrict roadside electorate advertising, including further regulation of roadside corflutes, and introduce specific offences for roadside advertising using illegally parked or idling vehicles for commercial or political purposes.

• Scrutiny Report 32
• Government response in Scrutiny Report 36
• Committee considered amendments in Scrutiny Report 36 and Scrutiny Report 37

Electricity Safety Legislation Amendment Bill 2022

Presented by Ms Vassarotti (Minister for Sustainable Building and Construction)—11 October 2022

This bill will amend the Construction Occupations (Licensing) Act 2004 and the Electricity Safety Act 1971 by removing duplication of regulation of electrical wiring work for the current and future stages of the light rail projects. The amendments will also modernise the regulation of utilities to adapt to new developments in electrical technologies.

• Scrutiny Report 23

Emergencies Amendment Bill 2021

Presented by Mr Gentleman (Minister for Police and Emergency Services)—9 November 2021

This bill will amend the Emergencies Act 2004 by creating a legislative power to appoint the ACT Recovery Coordinator. The bill will amend the Act by requiring that emergency management in the Territory develops community resilience to emergencies. Amendments also include providing for the transition of the ACT Bushfire Council into the ACT Multi-Hazard Advisory Council and allowing for the appointment of an Assistant Emergency Services Commissioner. The bill will also include provisions relating to the declaration of a state of alert and state of emergency, the use of social media to inform the community about emergencies, the delegation of certain powers to a police officer and the issuing of fire permits.

• Scrutiny Report 11
• Government Response in Scrutiny Report 12

Environment Protection (Fossil Fuel Company Advertising) Amendment Bill 2024

Presented by Ms Clay—6 February 2024

This bill will amend the Environment Protection Act 1997 to regulate fossil fuel company advertising in key sporting venues.

• Scrutiny Report 39

F

Fair Trading and Other Justice Legislation Amendment Bill 2022

Presented by Mr Rattenbury (Minister for Consumer Affairs)—7 April 2022

This bill will amend fair trading legislation of the Territory to provide greater consumer protection outcomes for the community. The amendments will include reforms to the regulation of the real estate industry to improve professional standards and qualifications and streamline the licensing framework for the industry. Amendments will be made to the licensing framework for gaming machine suppliers in the relevant legislation. The bill will also amend bookmaking legislation to provide that only corporations and not individuals or syndicates may hold a sports bookmaking licence. A number of minor and technical amendments will also be made to the Retirement Villages Act 2012 and the Retirement Villages Regulation 2013 to clarify uncertainties predominantly relating to meeting procedures.

• Scrutiny Report 15
• Government Response in Scrutiny Report 16

Family Violence Legislation Amendment Bill 2022

Presented by Mr Rattenbury (Attorney-General)—10 February 2022

This bill will amend a number of ACT statutes to ensure that domestic and family violence offenders are held to account, help to improve access to justice and remove trauma for victims involved in court proceedings. The bill will create an aggravated offence scheme, provide an express legislative basis for the court to grant an adjournment for the preparation of a Victim Impact Statement in sentence proceedings for serious offences and limit cross-examination on the contents of Victim Impact Statements. The amendments proposed by the bill will also extend the existing counselling protections for counselling communications in sexual offence proceedings, include technological abuse in the definition of family violence and change the name of the offence of ‘sexual relationship with child or young person under special care’. The bill will create a legislative requirement to review the Family Violence Act 2016 three years after the bill’s commencement.

• Scrutiny Report 13

Financial Management Amendment Bill 2021

Presented by Mr Barr (Treasurer)—16 September 2021

This bill will amend the Financial Management Act 1996 to increase the appropriation during the 2021-2022 supply period from 50 percent to 75 percent due to the delay in the introduction of the 2021-2022 appropriation bills as a result of the current COVID-19 outbreak in the Territory. Amendments to the Act will also increase the amount available for Treasurer’s advance payments from one percent to five percent of 2020-2021 appropriation acts.

• Scrutiny Report 9 (no comment)

Financial Management Amendment Bill 2021 (No 2)

Presented by Mr Gentleman (Minister for Industrial Relations and Workplace Safety)—1 December 2021

This bill will amend the Financial Management Act 1996 to require an evaluation to be completed prior to the outsourcing and/or privatisation of public sector jobs. The bill will include provisions to require that proposed services or works with an estimates value equal to or greater than an amount that may be prescribed by regulation be evaluated in accordance with the Insourcing Framework to be determined by the Chief Minister through a notifiable instrument.

• Scrutiny Report 12
• Government Response in Scrutiny Report 23 and Scrutiny Report 31
• Committee considered amendments in Scrutiny Report 31

Freedom of Information Amendment Bill 2022

Presented by Mr Steel (Special Minister of State)—21 September 2022

This bill will amend the Freedom of Information Act 2016 to improve and streamline the processing of freedom of information access applications and reviews by addressing processing issues, clarifying open access publication obligations and providing certainty about when extensions in time given by the Ombudsman are appropriate and permissible. The bill will also aim to increase efficiency with which respondents process information access requests and increase the processing time initially granted to respondents from 20 working days to 30 working days.

• Scrutiny Report 21

Freedom of Information Amendment Bill 2022 [No 2]

Presented by Ms Lee—21 September 2022

This bill will amend the Freedom of Information Act 2016 to create a proactive disclosure provision for the ACT Government to publicly release Cabinet records within 30 business days after being considered by Cabinet. The bill proposes a definition of Cabinet records and provides exemptions for certain records not to be published.

• Scrutiny Report 21 (no comment)

G

Gaming Machine Amendment Bill 2023

Presented by Dr Paterson—31 August 2023

This bill will amend the Gaming Machine Act 2004 to ensure that authorisation certificates for Class C gaming machines cannot be issued in the Molonglo Valley and other undeveloped areas of the ACT.

• Scrutiny Report 34
• Government response in Scrutiny Report 37

Gaming Machine (Club Refuge) Amendment Bill 2022

Presented by Mr Rattenbury (Minister for Gaming)—1 December 2022

This bill will amend the Gaming Machine Act 2004 and the Gaming Machine Regulation 2004 to create a legislative framework to support clubs to become heat and smoke refuges for local communities during emergencies or other hazards.

• Scrutiny Report 25 (no comment)
• Committee considered amendments in Scrutiny Report 25
• Committee considered amendments in Scrutiny Report 31

Gaming Machine (Compulsory Surrender) Amendment Bill 2024

Presented by Mr Rattenbury (Minister for Gaming)—21 March 2024

This bill will amend the Gaming Machine Act 2004 to establish the legislative framework for the compulsory surrender of gaming machine authorisations following the end of the voluntary surrender program. Technical amendments will also be made to the Gambling and Racing Control Act 1999 and the Gaming Machine (Offset Amounts) Regulation 2018.

• Scrutiny Report 40 (no comment)

Government Procurement Amendment Bill 2021

Presented by Mr Steel (Special Minister of State) and Mr Gentleman (Minister for Industrial Relations and Workplace Safety)—10 November 2021

This bill will amend the Government Procurement Act 2001 and the Government Procurement Regulation 2007 to increase the effectiveness of the Secure Local Jobs Code and allow for the obtaining of information or documentation to improve compliance with the obligations of the Code and to make determinations. The bill will also increase the monetary threshold for requiring a Labour Relations, Training and Workplace Equity Plan in services or works procurements that are primarily for construction work from a total estimated value of $25,000 to $200,000.

• Scrutiny Report 11
• Government Response in Scrutiny Report 12

Government Procurement Amendment Bill 2023

Presented by Mr Steel (Special Minister of State)—2 November 2023

This bill will amend the Government Procurement Act 2001 and the Government Procurement Regulation 2007 to address inconsistency issues, ensure the Act and Regulation are contemporary, and provide for best practice that are fit for purpose. The bill will also clarify the roles, obligations, and composition of the Government Procurement Board, and amend the quotation and tender thresholds that determine the way in which the ACT Government approaches the market. The bill will strengthen the procurement decisions of the ACT Government and ensure that public funds are managed appropriately through robust and transparent procurement processes.

• Scrutiny Report 37
• Government response in Scrutiny Report 38

Guardianship and Management of Property Amendment Bill 2022

Presented by Mr Rattenbury (Attorney-General)—21 September 2022

This bill will amend the Guardianship and Management of Property Act 1991 to promote the human rights of people with disabilities and older people who require support with decision-making and to recognise and promote awareness of supported decision-making principles in the ACT guardianship and management framework.

• Scrutiny Report 21

H

Health (Improved Abortion Access) Amendment Bill 2024

Presented by Ms Stephen-Smith (Minister for Health)—10 April 2024

This bill will amend the Health Act 1993 to increase the range of health practitioners who can prescribe abortion medication and to insert a requirement for health practitioners who decline to provide abortion services to transfer the care of patients to an appropriate provider.

Health Infrastructure Enabling Bill 2023

Presented by Ms Stephen-Smith (Minister for Health)—11 May 2023

This bill will allow the Territory to acquire part of Block 1 Section 1 Division of Bruce for the purposes of building a new public hospital on the current site of the Calvary Public Hospital Bruce. The bill will transition the operation of the public hospital to the Territory and will terminate the Calvary Network Agreement and provide for just compensation.

• Scrutiny Report 29
• Government Response in Scrutiny Report 30

Health Legislation Amendment Bill 2022

Presented by Ms Stephen-Smith (Minister for Health)—4 May 2022

This bill will amend the Medicines, Poisons and Therapeutic Goods Act 2008 to allow compliance testing to occur for sales of e-cigarettes to minors. The amendments will clarify that no smoking products may be sold via vending machines and will exempt community pharmacists from the requirement to source nicotine vaping products from a wholesaler who holds an ACT Tobacco licence. Amendments will also be made to the Tobacco and Other Smoking Products Act 1927, by this bill, to extend the application of Commonwealth therapeutics goods laws in the Territory. Amendments to the Transplantation and Anatomy Act 1978 will also be made to resolve technical legal compatibility issues between the Act and the Births, Deaths and Marriages Registration Act 1997.

• Scrutiny Report 16
• Committee considered amendments in Scrutiny Report 20

Heritage Amendment Bill 2024

Presented by Ms Vassarotti (Minister for Heritage)—11 April 2024

This bill will amend the Heritage Act 2004 to improve the processes used by the ACT Heritage Council to assess registration nominations. The amendments will also strengthen membership of the Council through an expanded list of disciplines that can be appointed by the Minister and increases the number of representatives from the Aboriginal community from one to two.

Housing and Consumer Affairs Legislation Amendment Bill 2024

Presented by Mr Rattenbury (Attorney-General)—9 April 2024

This bill will amend a number of laws the ACT’s statute book. The Residential Tenancies Act 1997 and the Unit Titles (Management) Act 2011 will be amended to include reforms that ensure rents can only be raised once every 12 months, and to assist tenants who are victims of domestic violence and streamline rental processes for both tenants and landlords. Amendments to the Charitable Collections Act 2003 will implement the National Fundraising principles to ensure the ACT meets the harmonizing fundraising conduct requirements in Australia. Amendments to the Agents Act 2003 will remove the requirement for employment agents to be licenced to reduce industry regulatory burdens. The Land Titles Act 1925 will be amended to allow the sharing of information for the purpose of administering taxation law and the Fair Trading (Australian Consumer Law) Act 1992 will be amended to enhance consumer protections where businesses fail to attend conciliations for low value claims.

Human Rights Commission Amendment Bill 2023

Presented by Ms Stephen-Smith (Minister for Health)—30 March 2022

This bill will amend the Human Rights Commission Act 2005 to implement the National Code of Conduct for Health Care Works in the ACT which aims to protect the public by setting minimum standards of conduct and practice for all workers providing a health service, and to address the gap in the regulation of health services provided by those who are not registered under the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law.

• Scrutiny Report 28 and Scrutiny Report 32
• Government response in Scrutiny Report 32 and Scrutiny Report 35

Human Rights Commission (Child Safe Standards) Amendment Bill 2024

Presented by Ms Stephen-Smith (Minister for Children, Youth and Family Services)—19 March 2024

This bill will amend the Human Rights Commission Act 2005 and the Human Rights Commission Regulation 2023 to establish a regulatory scheme for Child Safe Standards in the ACT.

• Scrutiny Report 40

Human Rights (Complaints) Legislation Amendment Bill 2023

Presented by Ms Cheyne (Minister for Human Rights)—20 September 2023

This bill will amend the Human Rights Act 2004 and the Human Rights Commission Act 2005 to establish an accessible complaints mechanism, enabling community members to make complaints about alleged breaches of human rights obligations of public authorities under the Human Rights Act 2004 to the ACT Human Rights Commission for confidential conciliation. The bill will also amend the Human Rights Act 2004 to: require that the relevant Assembly committee must report to the Legislative Assembly about human rights issues raised by subordinate legislation; remove references to gendered language; require notice to be given to the Human Rights Commission in all Supreme Court matters involving the application of the Human Rights Act 2004; and insert new provisions to ensure that individual public servants who are acting in the course of their employment are not named as respondents in litigation where they are implementing government policy and are subject to direction, and that responsibility and legal liability for any breach by a public employee is directed appropriately.

• Scrutiny Report 35

Human Rights (Healthy Environment) Amendment Bill 2023

Presented by Ms Cheyne (Minister for Human Rights)—26 October 2023

This bill will amend the Human Rights Act 2004 to include the right to a healthy environment in the ACT’s human rights framework.

• Scrutiny Report 37 (no comment)
• Committee considered amendments in Scrutiny Report 39

I

Independent Competition and Regulatory Commission Amendment Bill 2024

Presented by Mr Barr (Treasurer) and Mr Rattenbury (Minister for Water, Energy and Emissions Reduction)—9 April 2024

This bill will amend the Independent Competition and Regulatory Commission Act 1997 to provide improved enforcement capabilities by introducing new civil regulatory powers to bring it in line with the powers of other jurisdictions.

Integrity Commission Amendment Bill 2022

Presented by Ms Burch (Speaker)—9 June 2022

This bill will amend the Integrity Commission Act 2018 to include the category of ‘Assembly information’ in the Act, which is a broad class of information into which material covered by parliamentary privilege will necessarily fall. The bill also includes particular arrangements for handling of such information in the exercise of powers and functions by the Integrity Commission, including requests for information from heads of public sector entities, preliminary inquiry notices, search warrants and examination summonses.

• Scrutiny Report 18
• Government response in Scrutiny Report 21

Integrity Commission Amendment Bill 2022 (No 2)

Presented by Mr Cain on behalf of Ms Lee—20 October 2022

This bill will amend the Integrity Commission Act 2018 to facilitate the ACT Integrity Commission (the Commission) being recognised under the Telecommunications (Interception and Access) Act 1979 (Cth) to enable the Commission to intercept telecommunications, in accordance with the Commonwealth Act, for the investigation and exposure of corrupt conduct.

• Scrutiny Report 23
• Government response in Scrutiny Report 25

J

Justice and Community Safety Legislation Amendment Bill 2020

Presented by Mr Rattenbury (Attorney-General)—3 December 2020

This bill will make minor, technical and non-controversial amendments to a number of Territory laws to improve regulation of government, professional and community bodies and to better protect and promote improved services for vulnerable persons.

• Scrutiny Report 1
• Committee considered amendments in Scrutiny Report 1

Justice and Community Safety Legislation Amendment Bill 2021

Presented by Mr Rattenbury (Attorney-General)—11 November 2021

This bill will make minor and technical amendments to a number of Territory laws to improve the administration and operation of the laws for the more vulnerable members of the community and also to improve regulatory framework and the operation of the ACT Government and its agencies.

• Scrutiny Report 11
• Committee considered amendments in Scrutiny Report 11
• Government Response in Scrutiny Report 12

Justice and Community Safety Legislation Amendment Bill 2022

Presented by Mr Rattenbury (Attorney-General)—9 June 2022

This bill will make minor, technical and non-controversial amendments to a number of Territory laws to improve regulation of government, professional and community bodies and to better protect and promote improved services for vulnerable persons. The bill will also include provisions to improve access to justice for survivors of child sexual abuse which will give the Courts the power to set aside unjust child abuse settlements and remove limitation periods on causes of actions for survivors of child physical abuse.

• Scrutiny Report 18

Justice and Community Safety Legislation Amendment Bill 2022 (No 2)

Presented by Mr Rattenbury (Attorney-General)—24 November 2022

This bill will make amendments to Territory justice-related legislation including the Evidence (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1991 relating to the giving of evidence by a witness in the courtroom during sexual, violence, or family violence proceedings. Amendments to be made to the Justice of the Peace Act 1989 will insert a new provision to allow retired Justices of the Peace to have authority to use the “JP retired” title. The Guardianship and Management of Property Act 1991 and the Powers of Attorney Act 2006 will be amend the definition of low-risk research to provide that low-risk research does not include research that is part of a clinical trial, unless the trial is evaluation a health care product, procedure, process or technique that is included in the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods or has gained the support of a substantial number of practitioners in that field of health care. This bill will amend the Land Titles Act 1925 and the Land Titles Regulation 2015 relating to the documents used to verify an individual’s identity in certain land titles transactions. The bill amends the Liquor Act 2010 to provide that one member of the Liquor Advisory Board will be appointed by the Minister to represent the Australian Federal Police, with amendments also being made to the Security Industry Act 2003 concerning the period of time for which the Commissioner for Fair Trading is able to suspend a security licence, and to confirm that the ACT Civil and Administrative Tribunal is empowered to further suspend a licence.

• Scrutiny Report 25

Justice and Community Safety Legislation Amendment Bill 2023

Presented by Mr Rattenbury (Attorney-General)—11 May 2023

This bill will make amendments to Territory justice-related legislation including the Court Procedures Act 2004 to change the title of the Principal Registrar and Chief Executive Officer of the ACT Courts to the Chief Executive Officer of ACT Courts. Amendments to be made to the Crimes (Sentence Administration) Act 2005 and the Crimes (Sentencing) Act 2004 will resolve a legislative inconsistency for interstate detainees on life sentences whose parole orders have been transferred to the ACT under the Crimes (Sentence Administration) Act 2005. The Gaming Machine Act 2004 will also be amended to extend the time for licensees to redeem land, lease and planning, and development change offsets granted under the Pathway to 4000 scheme to 1 April 2028. Amendments to the Land Titles (Unit Titles) Act 1970 will replace erroneous references to the Magistrates Court with the correct references to the ACT Civil and Administrative Tribunal. Consequential amendments will also be made to the Freedom of Information Act 2016, the Road Transport (Drivers Licensing) Regulation 2000, and the Territory Records Act 2002.

• Scrutiny Report 29 (no comment)

Justice and Community Safety Legislation Amendment Bill 2023 (No 2)

Presented by Ms Cheyne (Minister for Human Rights) on behalf of Mr Rattenbury (Attorney-General)—21 September 2023

This bill will make minor and technical amendments to certain Territory justice-related legislation to modernise wills and estate laws, clarify the operation of tenancy laws, and amend strata laws to support owners’ corporations in unit-titled complexes more effectively. Provisions in the bill will support the Human Rights Commission and the ACT Ombudsman in exercising their statutory functions more effectively, and support administrative efficiencies.

• Scrutiny Report 35
• Government response in Scrutiny Report 38

Justice (Age of Criminal Responsibility) Legislation Amendment Bill 2023

Presented by Mr Rattenbury (Attorney-General)—9 May 2023

This bill will raise the minimum age of criminal responsibility in the ACT from 10 to 14 years of age, to ensure that children under the age of 14, except for those 12 and 13 years who commit certain exceptionally serious and intentionally violence offences, cannot be held criminally responsible. The bill allows for the minimum age to 12 upon enactment and to 14 by July 2025. The bill will also make consequential amendments to Territory laws.

• Scrutiny Report 29
• Government response in Scrutiny Report 36 and Scrutiny Report 38
• Committee considered amendments in Scrutiny Report 36 and Scrutiny Report 37

L

Legislation (Legislative Assembly Committees) Amendment Bill 2022

Presented by Ms Burch (Speaker)—10 February 2022

This bill will amend provisions in a number of ACT statues to enable the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly to nominate, in writing, which Assembly standing committees are to perform particular statutory responsibilities and functions. The amendments will make statutory references to Assembly committees consistent and will remove any ambiguity as to which committees are required to perform particular statutory functions, however, the amendments will not give the Speaker power to nominate a committee to perform functions arising under the Auditor-General Act 1996, the Legislative Assembly (Office of the Legislative Assembly) Act 2012, the Electoral Act 1992, the Ombudsman Act 1989 and the Integrity Commission Act 2018.

• Scrutiny Report 13 (no comment)

Liquor Amendment Bill 2023

Presented by Ms Rattenbury (Attorney-General)—29 November 2023

This bill will amend the Liquor Act 2010 and the Liquor Regulation 2010 to strengthen the security framework for licensed venues by providing security camera conditions for all bar and nightclub licences issued at any time.

• Scrutiny Report 38

Liquor (Night-Time Economy) Amendment Bill 2024

Presented by Ms Cheyne (Minister for Government Services and Regulatory Reform)—21 March 2024

This bill will amend the Liquor Act 2010 to amend the objectives of the Act to specifically reference the responsible development of the Territory’s night-time economy and related industries such as live music, entertainment, tourism and hospitality industries. Provisions of the bill will create two new event types – licensee events and special events – to support business growth and encourage greater participation in the night-time economy by the community. The bill will also: enable licensees to access free authorisations for extensions to trading hours and changes to floor plans for short, time limited events; allow for a reduction in annual licence fees; and allow the commissioner to issue an interim licence for any applicant where there is a delay relating to suitability of premises preventing the licence from being used, but the commissioner is satisfied from a risk and safety perspective that the premises can still provide alcohol. Amendments to the Act will also include allowing the Minister to determine additional business types are exempt from the liquor licensing framework.

• Scrutiny Report 40 (no comment)

Long Service Leave (Portable Schemes) Amendment Bill 2022

Presented by Mr Gentleman (Minister for Industrial Relations and Workplace Safety)—22 November 2022

This bill will amend the Long Service Leave (Portable Schemes) Act 2009 to expand access to portable long service leave, under the Act, to include workers in the hairdressing and beauty services industry and the accommodation and food services industries. The bill will also make a number of technical and consequential amendments to the Long Service Leave (Portable Schemes) Act 2009, the Labor Hire Licensing Act 2020 and the Workers Compensation Act 1951.

• Scrutiny Report 25
• Government Response in Scrutiny Report 27

Loose-fill Asbestos Legislation Amendment Bill 2021

Presented by Ms Vassarotti (Minister for Sustainable Building and Construction)—3 June 2021

This bill will amend the definitions of ‘buyback scheme’ and ‘loose-fill asbestos insulation eradication buyback program’ in several Acts to allow the eradication of loose-fill asbestos insulation from Canberra homes to continue beyond closure of the Loose-fill Asbestos Insulation Eradication Scheme Buyback Program on 17 August 2021.

• Scrutiny Report 6 (no comment)

M

Mental Health Amendment Bill 2023

Presented by Ms Davidson (Minister for Mental Health)—21 September 2023

This bill will amend the Mental Health Act 2015 to enhance the rights of mental health consumers subject to the Act by modernising the criteria which must be met before a person can be in contravention of their mental health order. Provisions in the bill will provide greater clarity to police, ambulance officers, doctors, and mental health officers in transporting a person to an approved mental health facility during apprehension. The amendments to the Act will seek to ensure that the ACT Civil and Administrative Tribunal (ACAT) is better informed when making decisions about the release of a person who comes to ACAT through a criminal justice pathway by ensuring the chief psychiatrist or delegate provides relevant information to inform conditions of release.

• Scrutiny Report 35

Modern Slavery Legislation Amendment Bill 2023

Presented by Ms Clay—28 March 2023

This bill will establish an anti-slavery regime in legislation that will require Territory entities to submit their own voluntary Commonwealth modern slavery statement and will ensure that Territory entities consider modern slavery in their procurements. The bill will also establish an Anti-Slavery Commissioner as an extension to the ACT Human Rights Commission.

• Scrutiny Report 28

Motor Accident Injuries Amendment Bill 2023

Presented by Mr Steel (Special Minister of State)—9 February 2023

This bill will amend the Motor Accident Injuries Act 2019 to provide for a financial penalty regime as part of the regulatory tools available to the Motor Accident Injuries Commission and will make miscellaneous and technical amendments to address issues identified during the implementation and operation of the Act.

• Scrutiny Report 26
• Government response in Scrutiny Report 29
• Committee considered amendments in Scrutiny Report 31

Multiculturalism Bill 2022

Presented by Ms Cheyne (Minister for Multicultural Affairs)—11 October 2022

This bill will establish and promote a charter for multiculturalism as well as establish the ministerial advisory council for multiculturalism. The bill also provides a framework for the review and continuous development of the promotion of multiculturalism in the Territory.

• Scrutiny Report 23

N

Nature Conservation Amendment Bill 2023

Presented by Ms Vassarotti (Minister for the Environment)—19 September 2023

This bill will amend the Nature Conservation Act 2014 to restrict the use of inappropriate fruit netting in ACT residential premises to prevent the risk of injury or death to native wildlife. The bill will make a consequential amendment to the Magistrates Court (Nature Conservation Infringement Notices) Regulation 2015.

• Scrutiny Report 35

Nature Conservation Amendment Bill 2024

Presented by Ms Vassarotti (Minister for the Environment, Parks and Land Management)—11 April 2024

This bill will make minor and technical amendments the Nature Conservation Act 2014 to improve clarity, enhance operational and regulatory responses and correct previous drafting errors.

O

Operational Efficiencies (COVID-19) Legislation Amendment Bill 2021

Presented by Mr Rattenbury (Attorney-General)—16 September 2021

This bill will amend several Territory statutes to permanently adopt a number of legislative measures taken during the COVID-19 emergency and will also extend the expiry of measures put in place to assist the business activities of incorporated associations.

• Scrutiny Report 9
• Committee considered amendments in Scrutiny Report 9

P

Parentage (Surrogacy) Amendment Bill 2023

Presented by Ms Cheyne (Minister for Human Rights)—31 October 2023

This bill will amend the Parentage Act 2004 to reduce barriers for altruistic surrogacy in the Territory. The bill will provide clearer structure for arrangements which better protect human rights for all parties involved, better considers the rights of a child, and provides greater consistency with states and territories.

• Scrutiny Report 37
• Government response in Scrutiny Report 40

Payroll Tax Amendment Bill 2023

Presented by Ms Lee—29 August 2023

This bill will amend the Payroll Tax Act 2011 to exempt wages paid to general practitioners under a relevant contract from ACT payroll tax, backdated to 1 July 2011, the commencement date of the Act.

Period Products and Facilities (Access) Bill 2022

Presented by Ms Orr—4 August 2022

This bill will establish requirements to enable the provision of free period products of various types in designated places in the community and to designated community partners for distribution to those who may struggle to acquire them. The bill will also require the Government to provide freely available information about menstruation and safe, healthy management of periods in multiple languages. The bill will require the Government to make period products and associated information in government schools and require non-government education providers to supply period products to those students in need at the education provider’s premises. Further requirements in the bill include that the ACT Public Service and entities undertaking territory-funded work provide appropriate handwashing, sanitary waste and other period management facilities in ACTPS workplaces.

• Scrutiny Report 20
• Committee considered amendments in Scrutiny Report 25 and Scrutiny Report 29

Planning and Development Amendment Bill 2021

Presented by Mr Gentleman (Minister for Planning and Land Management)—10 February 2021

This bill will amend the Planning and Development Act 2007 to prohibit the establishment of major waste facilities in Fyshwick and also ban the expansion of existing facilities in Fyshwick.

• Scrutiny Report 2 (no comment)

Planning and Environment Legislation Amendment Bill 2023

Presented by Mr Gentleman (Minister for Planning and Land Management)—8 February 2023

This bill will amend the City Renewal Authority and Suburban Land Agency Act 2017, the Dangerous Substances Act 2004 and the Government Agencies (Land Acquisition Reporting) Act 2018 by making minor legislative amendments related to the portfolio responsibilities of the Environment, Planning and Sustainable Development Directorate to be dealt with practically and to consolidate amendments into one place to make the amendment process more accessible.

• Scrutiny Report 26 (no comment)
• Committee considered amendments in Scrutiny Report 31

Planning and Environment Legislation Amendment Bill 2024

Presented by Ms Stephen-Smith (Acting Minister for Planning)—10 April 2024

This bill will amend the Climate Change and Greenhouse Gas Reduction Act 2010, the Commissioner for Sustainability and the Environment Act 2018, the Heritage Act 2004, the Nature Conservation Act 2014, the Professional Engineers Act 2023, and the Surveyors Act 2007 by making minor legislative amendments related to the portfolio responsibilities of the Environment, Planning and Sustainable Development Directorate to provide clarity, increase efficiency and transparency and also to reduce red tape.

Planning and Unit Titles Legislation Amendment Bill 2020

Presented by Mr Gentleman (Minister for Planning and Land Management)—2 December 2020

This bill will amend a number of Territory laws that deal with planning and unit titles matters to improve the operation of those laws. The amendments will make changes to existing legislative provisions regarding unit titles and community concessional leases.

• Scrutiny Report 1

Planning and Unit Titles Legislation Amendment Bill 2021

Presented by Mr Gentleman (Minister for Planning and Land Management)—8 October 2021

This bill will make minor policy, procedural and technical amendments to a number of Territory laws administered by the Environment, Planning and Sustainable Development Directorate and the Justice and Community Safety Directorate.

• Scrutiny Report 10

Planning Bill 2022

Presented by Mr Gentleman (Minister for Planning and Land Management)—21 September 2022

This bill will repeal the Planning and Development Act 2007 and the Planning and Development Regulation 2008 together with a large number of statutory instruments made under this legislation and replace them with an updated planning system to ensure easy accessibility and the delivery of improved development outcomes in the Territory.

• Scrutiny Report 21
• Government response in Scrutiny Report 26 and Scrutiny Report 30
• Committee considered amendments in Scrutiny Report 29 and Scrutiny Report 30

Planning (Consequential Amendments) Bill 2023

Presented by Mr Gentleman (Minister for Planning and Land Management)—29 June 2023

This bill will amend a number of pieces of Territory legislation, including regulations, as a consequence of the enactment of the Planning Act 2023.

• Scrutiny Report 32

Plastic Reduction Bill 2020

Presented by Mr Steel (Minister for Transport and City Services)—2 December 2020

This bill will enact policy to reduce the use of plastic in the Territory, particularly single-use plastic, by prohibiting the supply of identified single-use plastic items. The bill will also establish a framework for adding other products in the future, and absorbs the existing plastic shopping bag ban to streamline plastic-related regulation in the ACT.

• Scrutiny Report 1
• Government response in Scrutiny Report 2

Professional Engineers Bill 2022

Presented by Ms Vassarotti (Minister for Sustainable Building and Construction)—1 December 2022

This bill will establish a registration scheme for professional engineers and provides for the monitoring and enforcement of compliance with the scheme. The bill also imposes obligations on people registered about the provision of professional engineering services.

• Scrutiny Report 25
• Government Response in Scrutiny Report 27

Property Developers Bill 2023

Presented by Ms Vassarotti (Minister for Sustainable Building and Construction)—30 November 2023

This bill will provide for a statutory licensing scheme for property developers, including the creation of a fit and proper person test and rigorously enforced penalty scheme.

• Scrutiny Report 38

Public Health Amendment Bill 2021

Presented by Ms Stephen-Smith (Minister for Health)—10 November 2021

This bill will amend the Public Health Act 1997 by including temporary provisions to ensure that the Government’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic can continue to effectively address public health risks as the Territory moves into the next phase of the public health response.

• Scrutiny Report 11
• Government Response in Scrutiny Report 12

Public Health Amendment Bill 2021 (No 2)

Presented by Mr Barr (Chief Minister) and Ms Stephen-Smith (Minister for Health)—2 December 2021

This bill will amend the Public Health Act 1997 and a number of other COVID-19 related statutes to allow the Executive, after consultation with the Chief Health Officer, to make a COVID-19 Management Direction where it is satisfied that COVID-19 presents a serious risk to public health. Any direction made must be published on the ACT Legislation Register for transparency and accountability. The bill will require that the Human Rights Commission is consulted in the making of directions and any direction made will require a statement on how the direction is consistent with human rights.

• Scrutiny Report 12
• Government response in Scrutiny Report 14
• Committee considered amendments in Scrutiny Report 15
• Committee comments on Government response in Scrutiny Report 15

Public Place Names Amendment Bill 2021

Presented by Dr Paterson—30 November 2021

This bill will amend the Public Place Names Act 1989 to replace “colonisation” with “reconciliation” which will broaden the scope of persons famous in Australian fields whom the Minister can have regard in determining a public place name.

• Scrutiny Report 12 (no comment)

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Radiation Protection Amendment Bill 2022

Presented by Ms Stephen-Smith (Minister for Health)—24 March 2022

This bill will amend the Radiation Protection Act 2006 and the Radiation Protection Regulation 2007 to strengthen controls on the safe use and ownership of radiation sources, improve licensing and registration processes and align regulatory controls with other jurisdictions. The bill will also seek to provide greater regulatory transparency and improve business and government efficiencies, radiation safety controls, and stakeholder relations. The bill will make a consequential amendment to the Public Health Act 1997.

• Scrutiny Report 15
• Government Response in Scrutiny Report 16
• Committee considered amendments in Scrutiny Report 17

Remuneration Tribunal Amendment Bill 2021

Presented by Ms Burch (Speaker)—11 November 2021

This bill will amend the Remuneration Tribunal Act 1995 by amending provisions to allow for the position of ‘Whip in the Legislative Assembly of a registered party (other than the party to which the Chief Minister or Leader of the Opposition belongs) if at least four members of the Assembly are members of the party’ to be declared an ‘office’ pursuant to section 73 of the Australian Capital Territory (Self-Government) Act 1988. The amendments would require the Remuneration Tribunal to inquire into, and determine, the remuneration and allowances to be paid, and other entitlements to be granted to, the ‘office’.

• Scrutiny Report 11 (no comment)

Remuneration Tribunal Amendment Bill 2024

Presented by Ms Burch (Speaker)—20 March 2024

This bill will amend the Remuneration Tribunal Act 1995 to allow for additional remuneration to be payable to a Member of the Legislative Assembly who acts in an “office” for a continuous period of 60 days or more. Those offices include the Chief Minister, a minister, the Speaker, the Leader and Deputy Leader of the Opposition, Whips and the presiding member (chair) of a committee of the Legislative Assembly.

• Scrutiny Report 40 (no comment)

Residential Tenancies Legislation Amendment Bill 2022

Presented by Ms Rattenbury (Attorney-General)—30 November 2022

This bill will amend the Residential Tenancies Act 1997 and the Residential Tenancies Regulation 1998 to remove the without cause tenancy termination provision and introduce new provisions to allow landlords to continue to manage their properties effectively and to also allow Government and non-government subsidized accommodation providers to continue to provide targeted accommodation assistance programs. The bill will introduce provisions to ensure new and existing termination provisions are not misused and to make it an offence for landlords or agents to advertise a rental property without a fixed rental rate and to solicit rent bids. Minor and technical amendments related to approved forms will also be made to the Act by this bill.

The bill will amend the Housing Assistance Act 2004 to require that disallowable instruments to be made in certain circumstances. Minor and technical amendments will also be made to the Housing Assistance Act 2004 by the bill.

• Scrutiny Report 25
• Committee considered amendments in Scrutiny Report 26
• Government response in Scrutiny Report 26

Residential Tenancies Amendment Bill 2024

Presented by Ms Clay—8 February 2024

This bill will amend the Residential Tenancies Act 1997 and the Residential Tenancies Regulation 1998 by introducing a two-year rent freeze and capping the maximum annual rent increase at a flat two percent to the rate the tenant is currently paying. The bill will also ban all forms of rent bidding and remove the provision that allows higher rent increases to be prescribed through a residential tenancy agreement.

• Scrutiny Report 39

Revenue Legislation Amendment Bill 2021

Presented by Mr Barr (Treasurer)—31 March 2021

This bill will amend a number of laws on the ACT statute book to improve the operation of tax laws. The bill includes the removal of the current expiry date of 30 June 2021 for the affordable community housing and land tax exemption. The bill will also provide for: a conveyance duty concession for pensioners with a disability purchasing residential shares in not-for-profit supportive housing properties; provide for the application of penalty tax provisions under the Taxation Administration Act to overdue and unpaid rates on land owned by corporations and trusts; and will also make a number of minor and technical amendments.

• Scrutiny Report 3

Revenue Legislation Amendment Bill 2022

Presented by Mr Barr (Treasurer)—1 December 2022

This bill will update taxation legislation to clarify and modernise landholder duty provisions. Minor and technical amendments to the Duties Act 1999, the Land Tax Act 2004 and the Civil Law (Sale of Residential Property) Act 2003 will also be made by this bill.

• Scrutiny Report 25

Revenue Legislation Amendment Bill 2023

Presented by Mr Barr (Treasurer)—20 September 2023

This bill will amend the Duties Act 1999 to simplify and strengthen landholder duty provisions and bring the ACT’s landholder duty regime into closer alignment with other states and territories. In addition, the bill will make minor and technical amendments to the Duties Act 1999. The bill will amend the Rates Act 2004 to clarify the determination of average unimproved value where a Crown lease is subject to renewal to provide that averaging of unimproved values continues for the same parcel of land, and rename the Fire and Emergency Services Levy as the Police, Fire and Emergency Services Levy. The bill will also amend the Taxation Administration Act 1999 to clarify the interoperation of debt recovery provisions.

• Scrutiny Report 35 (no comment)

Road Safety Legislation Amendment Bill 2022

Presented by Mr Steel (Minister for Transport and City Services)—23 November 2022

This bill will amend Territory road transport legislation to improve road safety by providing enhanced penalties to deter dangerous driving behaviours and strengthen the reporting and monitoring of driver licence holders’ fitness to drive. The bill will also increase and introduce new penalties for a range of offences to ensure the sanctions for dangerous driving behaviours are appropriate and proportionate, particularly for repeat offenders.

• Scrutiny Report 25

Road Safety Legislation Amendment Bill 2023

Presented by Mr Steel (Minister for Transport and City Services)—29 November 2023

This bill will amend road safety legislation to increase and equalise, where relevant and feasible, penalties for drink and drug driving offences, create a low-range drink driving Traffic Infringement Notice for first-time offenders, and create a new offence for simultaneous drug and alcohol driving. The bill will also update penalties of the offence designed to capture the highest risk and most severe cases of impaired driving, expand roadside drug testing to include cocaine, and make several structure, minor and technical amendments to road transport legislation to align with modern legislative standards and improve readability.

• Scrutiny Report 38

Road Transport Legislation Amendment Bill 2021

Presented by Mr Steel (Minister for Transport and City Services)—5 August 2021

This bill will amend the Territory’s road transport legislation to improve road safety by strengthening the regulatory and enforcement framework for dangerous driving and other unsafe behaviours on the Territory’s road network. The amendments include establishing a new offence for negligent driving that causes actual bodily harm, increasing existing minimum automatic licence disqualification periods for the offences of culpable driving and negligent driving and establishing two new offences to address unsafe behaviours of other transport modes.

• Scrutiny Report 8
• Committee considered amendments in Scrutiny Report 13
• Committee considered amendments in Scrutiny Report 14
• Private Member’s Response in Scrutiny Report 15

Road Transport Legislation Amendment Bill 2021 (No 2)

Presented by Mr Steel (Minister for Transport and City Services)—1 December 2021

This bill will amend the Territory’s road transport legislation to introduce a regulatory timeframe of three months before the owner of a vehicle that is kept at an ACT garage address must transfer its registration to the ACT. The bill will also introduce a legislative exemption to the regulatory timeframe for vehicles registered in the name of a transferred defence force member and their eligible family members. Amendments made by the bill will also introduce provisions in relation to the use of certain vehicles, including e-scooters, or animals on the road while under influence of alcohol or drugs. The bill will also make minor and technical amendments to road transport legislation.

• Scrutiny Report 12
• Government response in Scrutiny Report 14

Road Transport (Safety and Traffic Management) Amendment Bill 2021

Presented by Mr Steel (Minister for Transport and City Services)—13 May 2021

This bill will amend a number of laws and regulations to allow for the use of mobile device detection cameras on ACT roads. The bill will amend the legislation governing the use of fixed and mobile speed cameras to be more flexible and responsive.

• Scrutiny Report 5
• Government response in Scrutiny Report 7

Road Transport (Safety and Traffic Management) Amendment Bill 2021 (No 2)

Presented by Ms Clay—22 June 2021

This bill will improve road safety, and where vulnerable road users (people outside of a car) are harmed, to bring penalties closer to meeting community expectation. It introduces a new offence for negligent driving that causes harm to a vulnerable road user with a maximum penalty of 50 penalty units and a traffic infringement notice penalty for this offence of $1600 plus the loss of three licence points.

• Scrutiny Report 7

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Senior Practitioner Amendment Bill 2021

Presented by Ms Davidson (Minister for Disability)—24 June 2021

This bill will amend the Senior Practitioner Act 2018, and contains provisions that both engage and promote or limit human rights in order to regulate and reduce the use of restrictive practices on vulnerable people.

• Scrutiny Report 7 (no comment)

Senior Practitioner Amendment Bill 2022

Presented by Ms Davidson (Minister for Disability)—4 August 2022

This bill will amend the Senior Practitioner Act 2018 by removing, from the definition of restrictive practice, verbal directions, or gestural conduct, of a coercive nature. This will make it clear that coercion is not a restrictive practice that could be part of a positive behaviour support plan. The bill will also strengthen the authority of regulations made under the Act to enable them to create offences and fix penalties.

• Scrutiny Report 20
• Government Response in Scrutiny Report 23

Sentencing (Drug and Alcohol Treatment Orders) Legislation Amendment Bill 2023

Presented by Mr Rattenbury (Attorney-General)—31 August 2023

This bill will amend the Crimes (Sentencing) Act 2005 to modify various provisions relating to the Drug and Alcohol Treatment Order Scheme. Consequential amendments will also be made to the Crimes (Sentence Administration) Act 2005.

• Scrutiny Report 34

Sexual Assault Reform Legislation Amendment Bill 2022

Presented by Mr Rattenbury (Attorney-General)—11 October 2022

This bill will improve how ACT laws respond to sexual violence with an aim of improving victim-survivors’ access to justice and enhanced safety. The bill will include provisions to provide that evidence of prior family violence between parties may be admissible in sexual offence proceedings and will provide that the presumption of bail does not apply to offences in certain sections of the Crimes Act 1900. The bill also amends relevant legislation in relation to consent provisions and allows specific protection orders to operate for longer than 12 months where there is ongoing related criminal proceedings. The bill will amend the definition of sexual act in the Crimes Act 1900.

The bill also makes consequential and technical amendments to a number of Territory laws.

• Scrutiny Report 23

Sexual, Family and Personal Violence Legislation Amendment Bill 2023

Presented by Mr Rattenbury (Attorney-General)—2 November 2023

This bill will amend Territory legislation relating to sexual violence, family violence and personal violence to reflect the severity of these offences and behaviour, and the harm caused to victim-survivors. The bill will legislate for a neutral presumption of bail to apply to offences in the Crimes Act 1900, will abolish the offence of aiding and abetting a breach of a family violence order for protected persons, and assist in streamlining protection order proceedings and better supporting parties to applications. The bill will also correct an unintended impact on the ability of the prosecution to elect to have certain offences determined summarily in the Magistrates Court, following amendments to section 374 of the Crimes Act 1900, introduced by the Family Violence Legislation Amendment Act 2022.

• Scrutiny Report 37

Statute Law Amendment Bill 2021

Presented by Mr Rattenbury (Attorney-General)—20 April 2021

This bill will amend a number of laws and regulations and forms part of the technical amendments program for ACT legislation. The bill includes amendments to the Controlled Sports Act 2019 to include the controlled sports registrar as someone who may be informed or advised about controlled sports issues by an advisory committee. The bill also proposes amendments to the Mental Health Act 2014 to include a registered affected person as someone who may appear and give evidence at the hearing of certain proceedings. The bill also proposes a number of other minor and technical amendments to ACT legislation.

• Scrutiny Report 4

Statute Law Amendment Bill 2022

Presented by Mr Rattenbury (Attorney-General)—2 June 2022

This bill will amend a number of laws and regulations by making technical amendments to the ACT’s statute book. The Territory Records Act 2002 will be amended to remove the requirement for the Minister to approve leave for the director of Territory Records with other laws being amended to update them with gender-neutral language.  A number of typographical errors and outdated cross-references will also be made to ACT laws.

• Scrutiny Report 18 (no comment)

Supreme Court Amendment Bill 2023

Presented by Mr Rattenbury (Attorney-General)—10 May 2023

This bill will amend the Supreme Court Act 1933 by introducing a new right to appeal a conviction or a finding of guilt on the basis of fresh and compelling evidence.

• Scrutiny Report 29

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Terrorism (Extraordinary Temporary Powers) Amendment Bill 2022

Presented by Mr Rattenbury (Attorney-General)—5 May 2022

This bill will amend Terrorism (Extraordinary Temporary Powers) Act 2006 to extend the operation of the Act for a further five years, to 19 November 2027, and requires that a further statutory review of the Act be provided to the Legislative Assembly a year before the expiry of the extension. The bill also makes several amendments aimed at strengthening human rights protections for individuals detained under the Act.

• Scrutiny Report 16
• Government response in Scrutiny Report 18
• Committee considered amendments in Scrutiny Report 20

Transport Canberra and City Services Legislation Amendment Bill 2022

Presented by Mr Steel (Minister for Transport and City Services)—21 September 2022

This bill will make a number of minor and technical amendments to Territory legislation concerning cemeteries and crematoria, litter and illegal dumping, plastic reduction and the governance arrangements of the ACT Veterinary Practitioners Board.

• Scrutiny Report 21

U

Unit Titles Legislation Amendment Bill 2023

Presented by Mr Gentleman (Minister for Planning and Land Management)—22 March 2023

This bill will amend a number of Territory laws relating to the development and functioning of unit plans. The bill will require owners corporations to lodge copies of all alternative rules when a rule is amended, will prohibit the registration of an alternative rule made by an owners corporation more than three months after the special resolution that passed the alternative rule and remove the requirement to lodge copies of units plans. The bill will also require Class B unit plans to register any decision to exempt themselves from having building insurance for a whole complex, will streamline unit titles applications and approval processes and prevent the elimination of a unit in a two-unit Class A unit plan if one unit is the subject of a building damage scheme.

Amendments made by the bill will also allow subleasing of common property, will allow existing owners corporations to opt into a Building Management Statement via a special resolution and remove the requirement for a unit owner to give the owners corporation notice if they enter into an agreement to sell the unit, with notification to be provided at settlement. The bill will clarify the fees and timing of unit title certificates and provide clarification on the recovery of costs of paying an insurance excess. Finally, the bill will amend the default rules for unit plans to add further examples where permission for the installation of sustainability infrastructure may be withheld.

• Scrutiny Report 28

University of Canberra Amendment Bill 2024

Presented by Mr Barr (Minister for Trade, Investment and Economic Development)—20 March 2024

This bill will amend the University of Canberra Act 1989 by making the appointments to the University of Canberra Council consistent with administrative arrangements for the Act, and to give explicit allowance for subdelegation of authorities delegated by the Council. The bill will also change the ministerial appointments to the council from being the responsibility of the Chief Minister to the responsible minister for the Act.

• Scrutiny Report 40 (no comment)

Urban Forest Bill 2022

Presented by Mr Steel (Minister for Transport and City Services)—3 August 2022

This bill will repeal the Tree Protection Act 2005 and the Magistrates Court (Tree Protection Infringement Notices) Regulation 2006 to provide an updated legislative framework for managing trees on private and public land to enhance Canberra’s tree canopy to reach a target of 30 percent canopy coverage by 2045.

• Scrutiny Report 20
• Committee considered amendments in Scrutiny Report 26
• Government response in Scrutiny Report 26

Urban Forest (Consequential Amendments) Bill 2023

Presented by Mr Steel (Minister for Transport and City Services)—25 October 2023

This bill will amend Territory legislation relating to the management and protection of the ACT urban forest. The amendments are a consequence of the enactment of the Urban Forest Act 2023.

• Scrutiny Report 37 (no comment)

Utilities Amendment Bill 2021

Presented by Mr Barr (Treasurer) and Mr Rattenbury (Minister for Water, Energy and Emissions Reduction)—20 April 2021

This bill will amend the Utilities Act 2000 by introducing a required reference price framework to provide ACT consumers with a consistent benchmark to compare alternative offers and make informed choices regarding electricity contracts.

• Scrutiny Report 4 (no comment)

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Variation in Sex Characteristics (Restricted Medical Treatment) Bill 2023

Presented by Mr Barr (Chief Minister)—22 March 2023

This bill will establish new decision-making processes to be applied when irreversible medical treatments are being considered for people with variations in sex characteristics, such interventions will only be permitted when they meet criteria set out in the bill.

• Scrutiny Report 28

Victims of Crime (Financial Assistance) Amendment Bill 2024

Presented by Ms Cheyne (Minister for Human Rights)—11 April 2024

This bill will amend the Victims of Crime (Financial Assistance) Act 2016 to expand financial assistance to victims of historic acts of violence, victims of intimate image abuse and also to reduce the administrative and red tape burden on both victims and Victim Support ACT (VSACT).

Victims of Crime Amendment Bill 2023

Presented by Ms Cheyne (Minister for Human Rights) and Mr Rattenbury (Attorney-General)

This bill will amend the Victims of Crime Act 1994 to provide that police are not required to give an update about a change in the status of an investigation if doing so would prejudice the matter generally, and will amend the circumstances that constitute a change in status of an investigation to expressly include when police decide to charge a person or issue an arrest warrant.

• Scrutiny Report 34

Voluntary Assisted Dying Bill 2023

Presented by Ms Cheyne (Minister for Human Rights)—31 October 2023

This bill will amend laws to ensure that, in defined circumstances and with strong safeguards, it will be lawful for an authorised practitioner to assist an eligible individual to access an approved substances as an additional end of life choice.

• Scrutiny Report 37
• Government response in Scrutiny Report 38

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Water Resources Amendment Bill 2023

Presented by Mr Rattenbury (Minister for Water, Energy and Emissions Reduction)—29 March 2022

This bill will amend the Water Resources Act 2007 to enable the director-general, Environment, Planning and Sustainable Development Directorate to be responsible for water policy functions and for the Environment Protection Authority to retain responsibility for regulatory functions including licence conditions. The amendments will clarify the role of the Coordination Group within ACT water sector governance arrangements. Consequential amendments will also be made to several relevant Territory statutes.

• Scrutiny Report 28

Work Health and Safety Amendment Bill 2021

Presented by Mr Gentleman (Minister for Industrial Relations and Workplace Safety)—24 June 2021

This bill will provide a more effective deterrence for poor workplace safety by establishing an offence provision that is similar to those in effect under the Crimes Act for the purposes of industrial manslaughter. The bill will establish industrial manslaughter as an offence under the Work Health and Safety Act 2011, repeals industrial manslaughter from the Crimes Act 1900 and sets out the necessary consequential amendments to a number of Acts.

• Scrutiny Report 7

Work Health and Safety Amendment Bill 2022

Presented by Mr Barr (Chief Minister)—20 October 2022

This bill will amend the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (the Act) by confirming the application of the Act to the Legislative Assembly as a workplace where work is carried out as an undertaking of the Territory.

• Scrutiny Report 23 and Scrutiny Report 30
• Committee considered amendments in Scrutiny Report 23
• Government response in Scrutiny Report 26
• Committee considered amendments in Scrutiny Report 31

Workplace Legislation Amendment Bill 2022

Presented by Mr Gentleman (Minister for Industrial Relations and Workplace Safety)—8 June 2021

This bill will amend a number of laws relating to workplace legislation. The bill will include provisions to provide greater clarity for duty holders about their work, health and safety obligations, to ensure work health safety offences are effective in deterring non-compliance and to ensure that liability for penalty amounts under the Territory’s work health safety laws cannot be insured. The bill seeks to strengthen cross-border information sharing arrangements between regulators, will extend work safety incident notification laws to require employers to report sexual assault incidents occurring at their workplaces to the work safety regulator and improve worker protections relating to private sector workers’ compensation. The bill will also make a number of minor and technical amendments to workplace legislation.

• Scrutiny Report 18 and Scrutiny Report 21
• Government response in Scrutiny Report 21 and Scrutiny Report 23

Workplace Legislation Amendment Bill 2024

Presented by Mr Gentleman (Minister for Industrial Relations and Workplace Safety)—8 February 2024

This bill will amend workplace legislation in the Territory by increasing maximum penalties for work health and safety offences and by introducing an indexation mechanism to support work health safety penalties maintaining relevance over time. The bill will clarify that workplace safety category one offences may apply to officers of a person conducting a business or undertaking who, through recklessness or negligence, expose an individual to a risk of death or serious injury. The bill will also make minor and technical amendments to several pieces of workplace legislation.

• Scrutiny Report 39