BILLS FOR INTRODUCTION IN PARLIAMENT THIS WEEK

Published Monday, 30 October, 2006 at 06:11 PM

Premier and Minister for Trade
The Honourable Peter Beattie

for Parliament Week beginning Tuesday October 31, 2006.

Premier Peter Beattie said today that the bills to be introduced to Parliament this week include:

EDUCATION LEGISLATION AMENDMENT BILL 2006, Minister for Education

This Bill proposes amendments to the Education (Queensland Studies Authority Act 2002) and the Education (General Provisions) Act 2006 to provide a legislative basis for the introduction of the new Queensland Certificate of Education (QCE).

Students starting Year 10 this year (2006) are the first to work towards the new QCE which will be issued from 2008.

The QCE is a broad based school qualification awarded to young people, usually at the completion of Year 12, who achieve a significant amount of learning at a set standard and meet literacy and numeracy requirements.

Media Contact – Greg Milne – 0417 791 336

STATE PENALTIES ENFORCEMENT AND OTHER LEGISLATION AMENDMENT BILL 2006, Attorney-General

The government’s State Penalties Enforcement Registry (SPER) will be able to write off uncollectible and unenforceable fines up to 30 years old under legislative changes to be introduced into Parliament next week. Currently only the Governor can write off SPER debts.

SPER also will be able to write off unpaid fines from debtors who have died and from companies that have been wound up.

The changes will assist families of deceased people who receive letters asking their loved ones to pay outstanding fines.

It also may assist people asked to pay decades-old fines when they have no way of checking that the debt belongs to them.

Media Contact – Greg Milne – 0417 791 336

WHISTLEBLOWERS PROTECTION (DISCLOSURE TO MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT) BILL 2006, Premier and Minister for Trade

The Bill follows a commitment by the Government to strengthen the Whistleblowers Act 1994. The Bill, including an expansion of who is covered by the Act, is based on a review by the Office of the Public Service Commissioner following lengthy consideration of the Forster and Davies reports and their recommendations in relation to Whistleblower protection.

Media Contact – Belinda Carroll – 0418 795 940

HEALTH SERVICE AMENDMENT BILL 2006, Minister for Health

The Health Service Amendment Bill 2006 amends the Health Services Act 1991 to give effect to structural changes to the administration of Queensland Health following the announcement of the consolidation of health service districts from 37 to 20.

The Bill also includes a set of guiding principles reflecting key elements of the reform agenda, clarifies the functions of the chief executive officer, general managers and district managers, establishes a health executive service and provides for the declaration of state-wide health services.

The Bill builds upon the Government’s commitments to the reform of Queensland Health and continued improvement in the quality and safety of public health services for the people of Queensland.

MEDICAL BOARD (Administration) BILL 2006, Minister for Health

The Medical Board (Administration) Bill 2006 establishes a new Office of the Medical Board as announced in August this year, which will be dedicated solely to servicing the Medical Board of Queensland. The Office of the Medical Board will assume the role of the Office of the Health Practitioner Registration Boards in the provision of support services to the Medical Board of Queensland.

The Bill provides that the provision of administrative and operational support services by the Office of the Medical Board to the Medical Board of Queensland will be in accordance with a service agreement entered into between the two authorities.

The Bill delivers on the Government’s election commitment to introduce legislation into Parliament in 2006 to create a separate authority to focus solely on doctor registration issues.

Media Contact – Paul Lynch – 0417 728 676

WILD RIVERS AND OTHER LEGISLATION AMENDMENT BILL 2006, Minister for Natural Resources and Water.

The Bill implements agreed changes to Wild Rivers policy, announced prior to the election, to protect the four pristine river areas in the Gulf (Gregory and Staaten rivers, Settlement Creek and Morning Inlet) and on Fraser and Hinchinbrook islands. Other changes include amendments to the Water Act 2000 to support introduction restrictions on non-residential water users and improve flexibility in water trading.

Media Contact - Kirby Anderson - 3896 3689 or 0418 197 350