Northern Territory Second Reading Speeches

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PROSTITUTION REGULATION AMENDMENT BILL 2000

Mr BALDWIN (Racing, Gaming and Licensing): Mr Speaker, I move that the bill be now read a second time.

The Northern Territory government is committed to providing an environment that assists businesses to cut regulatory costs to businesses while ensuring an appropriate level of regulation. The government is looking to streamline the regulation of Territory businesses to reduce duplication and inefficiencies in this area. Consistent with this pro-business policy, in late 1999 I introduced the Northern Territory Licensing Commission Bill to this House. The objectives of the bill was to build on the formation of the Department of Industries and Business and provide a simpler and more streamlined scheme for business regulation. That bill was assented to and commenced operation on 14 February 2000. As a result, the Northern Territory Licensing Commission now has control of the licensing functions in the area of liquor, kava, gaming machines and private security.

The Department of Industries and Business has recently assumed the administration of the Prostitution Regulation Act, which establishes the Escort Agency Licensing Board. Presently, the board licences and regulates the operations of escort agents in the Territory. The bill before this House today proposes to amend the Prostitution Regulation Act by abolishing the Escort Agency Licensing Board and transferring its functions and powers to the Northern Territory Licensing Commission. Apart from decreasing the number of regulatory agencies that business must deal with, this change will also complement the administrative changes that have occurred within the Department of Industries and Business. The bill will omit the definition of ‘board’, ‘chairman’ and ‘registrar’ contained in the Prostitution Regulation Act and substitute the definitions of ‘commission’, ‘chairperson’ and ‘director’ provided by section 3 of the Northern Territory Licensing Commission Act respectively.

I mentioned that one of government’s objectives is to reduce duplication and inefficiencies in the area of business regulation. In line with this objective, the bill will omit most of the prescribed forms contained in the regulations, and insert a new section, section 49A, which provides the commission with the power to approve the forms of a certificate, notice or other document required for the purpose of the act. This would allow the commission to respond quickly to changes in the industry and reduce the number of prescribed forms from 21 down to five.

The bill also proposes that an appeal against a decision of the commission be lodged with the registrar of the local court. Presently, under the act, an appeal is lodged with the registrar, who is the director of licensing within the Department of Industries and Business. The matter is subsequently heard by a tribunal consisting of an appointed magistrate at the local court for the purposes of division 4 of the act. Because the registrar of the local court is physically located within the same building as the tribunal, the proposed change will lead to increased efficiency in the manner appeals are handled. It should be noted that the substance of the provisions providing the machinery for appeals will not change.

Finally, the bill amends the transitional provisions of the Prostitution Regulation Act section 56, which was introduced in 1992, and has fulfilled its function.

In summary, this bill provides the procedural changes necessary for more efficient administration of the prostitution regulation legislation. It will provide immediate benefits to government and business, and the bill before this House is simple and sensible.

Debate adjourned.

 

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