Tuesday, 20 February 2024

Bills

Private Security and County Court Amendment Bill 2024

Introduction and first reading

Anthony CARBINES (Ivanhoe – Minister for Police, Minister for Crime Prevention, Minister for Racing) (12:04): I move:

That I introduce a bill for an act to amend the Private Security Act 2004 to provide for a new licensing system for the private security industry and to amend the County Court Act 1958 and the Sentencing Act 1991 to extend the operation of the Drug Court division of the County Court and for other purposes.

Motion agreed to.

Michael O’BRIEN (Malvern) (12:05): I ask the minister to provide a brief explanation of the bill.

Anthony CARBINES (Ivanhoe – Minister for Police, Minister for Crime Prevention, Minister for Racing) (12:05): I thank the honourable member for Malvern. The aim of the bill is to give effect to the recommendations made in the report on the review of the private security industry which was endorsed by cabinet and published in December 2021 to extend the operation of the County Court Drug and Alcohol Treatment Court, DATC, pilot. The report arose out of a 2018 election commitment to review the industry with a view to improving worker access to their rights to fair pay and work conditions as well as to improve the professionalism and consequent public reputation of the industry.

Read first time.

Ordered to be read second time tomorrow.