Chief Minister Gallagher has blogged her plans for the Spring 2013 sittings.
The main items have been thusly paraphrased:
- — The Marriage Equality Bill 2013 will enable couples who are not able to marry under the Commonwealth Marriage Act 1961 to enter into marriage in the ACT. It will provide for solemnisation, eligibility, dissolution and annulment, regulatory requirements and notice of intention in relation to same sex marriages.
— The Births Deaths and Marriages (Transgender) Amendment Bill 2013, will give effect to the government’s response to the Law Reform Advisory Council’s ‘Beyond the Binary’ report. The bill will create full recognition and equality before the law for transgender Canberrans, and provide the right to privacy and reputation.
— The Human Rights Amendment Bill 2013 will amend the Human Rights Act 2004 to make it clear that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have the right to enjoy and maintain their culture, including their language, kinship ties and special relationship with land and waters. The bill will also show the clear support of the ACT Government for proper recognition of Indigenous Australians in the Constitution.
— The Payroll Tax Act Amendment Bill 2013 will provide a $4,000 payroll tax concession to medium and large businesses which employ a recent school leaver with a disability.
— The Mental Health (Treatment and Care) Act Amendment Bill 2013 will align mental health legislation with national and international reforms and with the ACT Human Rights Act.
— The Construction and Energy Efficiency Legislation Amendment Bill 2013 (No 2) will amend a number of existing Acts to reform the regulatory framework of the construction industry. This bill has been developed in response past investigations into building quality in the ACT and to the full review of the Building Act which is underway, and will result in more reforms during this term of government.
— The Magistrates Court (Industrial Proceedings) Amendment Bill 2013 will introduce a specialised Industrial Court to hear and determine work safety matters and workers’ compensation claims up to the current Magistrates Court jurisdictional limit of $250,000.
— The Red Tape Reduction Omnibus Bill 2013 will bring forward recommendations from the Red Tape Reduction Panel.