Better Regulation Legislation Amendment Bill 2020

Published on: June 2020

Record: HANSARD-1323879322-110462


Better Regulation Legislation Amendment Bill 2020

Second Reading Debate

Debate resumed from 3 March 2020.

Ms JULIA FINN (Granville) (14:51):

:40 As shadow Minister for Consumer Protection, it is my pleasure to lead for the Opposition in debate on the Better Regulation Legislation Amendment Bill 2020. The bill was introduced and second read in the Legislative Assembly on 3 March, which seems an age ago, given all that has happened subsequently. It is wonderful to be back to a regular parliamentary sitting week. These are uncertain times and it is crucial that, as representatives, we gather here to do our jobs and advocate for our communities. Labor has been arguing for Parliament to return for some time; I am pleased that the Government has finally listened and that we are all here today.

I state at the outset that the Opposition will not be opposing the bill. I have spoken to many stakeholder groups and several colleagues, including the Hon. Daniel Mookhey, the shadow Minister for Finance and Small Business, who has carriage in the other place. They all agree that these are, for the most part, sensible changes. I thank the Minister for Better Regulation and Innovation and his staff who have briefed us about the bill and have made themselves available to me and to my office. The Minister's efforts to consult with the Opposition have set him apart from many of his colleagues. Though the bill contains sound measures, Labor intends to move some small amendments in the Legislative Council to improve it, which we have flagged with the Minister. I will discuss those amendments later. It is my hope that the Government will support the changes as we feel they uphold the original intent of the bill.

The Better Regulation Legislation Amendment Bill 2020 brings together a number of miscellaneous amendments to 13 Acts across a number of areas, all falling under the umbrella of the Better Regulation and Innovation portfolio. The amendments include changes to the Motor Dealers and Repairers Act 2013, the Gas and Electricity (Consumer Safety) Act 2017, the Home Building Act 1989, the Residential (Land Lease) Communities Act 2013, the Entertainment Industry Act 2013, the Community Gaming Act 2018, the Charitable Fundraising Amendment Act 2018, the Storage Liens Act 1935, the Retail Trading Act 2008, the Pawnbrokers and Second‑hand Dealers' Act 1996, the Contract Cleaning Industry (Portable Long Service Scheme) Act 2010, the Residential Tenancies Act 2010, and the Property, Stock and Business Agents Act 2002.

For the most part, Labor believes the proposed changes are sensible measures, some of which stakeholders have been asking for for some time. We feel that these measures make positive changes to the function of the Acts. I outline the key measures contained in the bill and the Opposition's position on them. The measures fall into three general categories: changes to improve consumer protections; changes to the way that legislation is administered in the Better Regulation and Innovation portfolio; and alterations that simplify current regulatory arrangements.

This bill makes amendments to improve consumer protection, something Labor has always supported. These measures include changes to arrangements for motor dealers and repairers, including modifications to allow the secretary to cancel motor dealers' and repairers' licences if they have been issued due to misrepresentations or in error; changes so that non-minor repair work for transport service vehicles must be carried out by the holder of a motor vehicle repairer's licence; the allowance for regulations to specify the maximum amount of compensation payable from the Motor Dealers and Repairers Compensation Fund; and an expansion of the existing gas-related investigation powers of NSW Fair Trading to allow investigations into autogas installations. After consulting with relevant stakeholders, including the Motor Traders Association of New South Wales, the Opposition supports these measures and believes that the changes benefit both the motor dealer and repairers industry, and New South Wales consumers.

The bill also seeks to make adjustments to the administration of legislation in the Better Regulation portfolio. These measures include changes to remove the need always to have police presence for search warrants, consistent with other legislation administered by NSW Fair Trading; a requirement that unclaimed proceeds from the sale of goods under the Storage Liens Act 1935 be deposited with Revenue NSW, not the NSW Public Trustee and Guardian, as is consistent with the Unclaimed Money Act 1995; changes to the prescribed form for retail trading exemptions to a "secretary-approved form" and merges the public review of exemption clauses into the principal Act, allowing for the repeal of the regulation; changes to enable the secretary to exempt a person from the requirements of the Pawnbrokers and Second-hand Dealers Act 1996 instead of prescribing exemptions; updates to the names of Long Service Leave Committee representatives; and changes to enable the secretary to exempt gas appliances, gas installations and autogas installations from certain standards not required to ensure consumer safety.

Once again, after consultation with stakeholders including the NSW Plumbing Trades Employees Union, the Electrical Trades Union, the United Workers Union, the Shop, Distributive and Allied Employees Association, the Police Association of NSW and the Public Service Association, Labor is confident that these are sensible proposals and will support these measures. In particular, Labor believes that the changes to the Storage Liens Act, which make it easier for people to find unclaimed money, is a positive move, particularly given the current financial stress that many people are experiencing. We find ourselves in a time when people have felt the need to drawdown on their superannuation prematurely. If people can access their own unclaimed money perhaps they will not feel the need to drawdown on their retirement incomes decades in advance, depriving themselves of future income.

I wish to make one comment, however, in relation to the measure to amend the Retail Trading Act 2008 by removing the current exemption application form from the regulation and vesting that power in the secretary. The Opposition acknowledges that there is some benefit to this measure, but we want it noted that it leaves it open for the secretary to be free to determine the content of the form at any time without any constraint, direction or consultation with others. Stakeholders have told us that the current form has served the retail industry well. Given this, Labor wishes to stress to the Government that any changes to the form should not be done lightly and should only be done after careful consultation with stakeholders.

Finally, this bill seeks to make changes to help streamline regulatory requirements. These measures include that a person is not required to hold a motor dealers licence to sell a boat trailer in connection with the sale of a second-hand boat; a change that requires landlords to disclose in the Residential Tenancy Agreement the jurisdiction in which they ordinarily reside; a clarification of the definition of "electrical installation" to exclude transmission electricity meters; and a change that ensures that proceedings for indictable offences under the Property, Stock and Business Agents Act 2002 are not subject to the time limit in that Act and are, instead, subject to time frames in the Criminal Procedure Act 1986.

Again, after speaking to stakeholders, the Opposition feels that these are sound measures. We do, however, believe that there are two areas that can be improved through amendments. First, Labor and the industry stakeholders hold concerns about the proposal to clarify the definition of "trailer" in the Motor Dealers and Repairers Act 2013. The change is positive, but Labor feels that in the interests of protecting the consumer there is still a need for a current inspection report for the trailer to be given at the time of sale. This change would ensure that the trailer is roadworthy and fit for purpose, and that consumers are not left disadvantaged or left with a dangerous trailer. We are therefore proposing an amendment to the bill requiring such a report. This amendment will be moved by my colleagues in the Legislative Council, and I hope that the Government will support this improvement.

Secondly, in relation to the changes to the Residential Tenancies Act, Labor is very supportive of removing barriers to firm regulation of landlords and accommodation providers, and of the revisions to location disclosure for landlords. However, Labor feels there is a broader issue with regard to the landlord's existing obligation to disclose their contact details as well as the agents. While it is a breach of the tenancy agreement for a landlord to not comply, the cost to the tenant of enforcing the law is too high. Labor feels that a penalty provision should be added to the section to help resolve this. Again, we will move this amendment in the Legislative Council and hope that the Government will support it. These two proposed amendments will improve the bill and have been flagged with the Minister for introduction in the Legislative Council.

These are very sensible and, for the most part, minor housekeeping amendments across the Better Regulation and Innovation portfolio. They can be further improved by the two suggestions I have made in relation to penalty provisions around the disclosure of contact details for landlords who are interstate, and also the clarification about boat trailers and the ongoing requirement for a trailer to have any current inspection report. These are important matters. I urge the Minister and the Government to take these on board and support them in the Legislative Council. Labor is not opposed to these important reforms for the Better Regulation and Innovation portfolio, and I commend them.

Ms MELANIE GIBBONS (Holsworthy) (15:01):

:09 I speak in support of the Better Regulation Legislation Amendment Bill 2020. I thank the Hon. Kevin Anderson, MP, Minister for Better Regulation and Innovation, for bringing this bill to the House, with the purpose of amending various Acts and legislation in an effort to ensure the legislation remains appropriate for the purpose of the bill. Further, the proposed amendments seek to protect consumers, simplify and clarify legislation purpose, reduce uncertainty, streamline regulation requirements and remove any unnecessary procedures.

The proposed amendments in the bill fall under three categories: the increase to consumer protection, the insurance of proper and effective administration of legislation, and the clarification and streamlining of regulatory requirements. These proposed amendments will work to greatly improve the Better Regulation and Innovation portfolio, so that it is consistent with the evolving changes the industry is experiencing. Last year's Better Regulation Legislation Amendment Act 2019 is testament to the expectations for this bill, as most of the amendments within the 2019 Act have started and are already improving the operation of the law.

Schedule 1 to the bill refers to the proposed amendments relating to motor dealers and repairers licences, repairs on transport service vehicles and the Motor Dealers and Repairers Compensation Fund. These amendments seek to clarify existing regulations and provide a more transparent process for consumers. The Home Building Act 1989 contains similar powers and has the capacity to immediately cancel a licence that never should have been issued, which directly allows for a more competent administrative process and, additionally, avoids unnecessary delays.

New section 22A enables the licence to be reinstated without the applicant having to reapply. However, this will be applicable only in situations where the error is resolved, the person acted lawfully or there are additional reasons that the licence should be reinstated. This will allow for better consumer protection, through providing a much simpler way of cancelling a licence that has been incorrectly issued and making sure that the licence holder will not need to submit to disciplinary processes.

The proposed amendments in schedule 1 also strive to address a regulatory gap by ensuring that non-minor repairs to all transport service vehicles are performed only by a licensed motor vehicle repairer. Currently this requirement applies only to point-to-point transport legislation for taxis, hire cars and Uber vehicles. However, this requirement is just as important for other small businesses that deliver services directly to consumers, and therefore require established safety protocols. This will also work to protect any businesses that may arise in the future. To ensure transparency, the bill includes a new definition of a "transport service vehicle", which works to remove any doubt as to what vehicles are subject to the requirements. The proposed amendments require owners of a transport service to use a licensed motor vehicle repairer. Minor repairs, such as replacing a flat tyre, are exempt. New South Wales is experiencing a dramatic increase in ridesharing and face‑to‑face services and businesses. Therefore more consumers are subject to the risks associated with vehicles not having been repaired by qualified personnel. The amendments will ensure adequate protection of those consumers.

The bill seeks to lessen the regulatory burden for second‑hand boat dealers in New South Wales. At present second‑hand boat dealers must hold a motor dealer licence if trailers are sold with a boat. The proposed amendment seeks to rectify that issue by specifically providing that a person is not required to be licensed as a motor dealer to sell a trailer for a second‑hand boat. That directly ensures that a person is not obliged to hold two separate licences, as second‑hand boat sellers are already required to hold a licence under the Pawnbrokers and Second‑hand Dealers Act 1996.

At present it is understood that not all search warrants require the need for NSW Police Force presence. Proposed amendments in schedule 2 to the bill will allow searches under warrant to be performed without the company of a police officer where it is not necessary or is deemed inappropriate. Those changes will ensure that searches of premises and the gathering of information is done in a timely manner, allowing the investigative process to be carried out promptly and efficiently. The amendments are supported by the NSW Police Force, which has been consulted continually throughout the development of the bill. The proposed amendments will significantly reduce time demands on the NSW Police Force, enabling police to continue with their duties, and will allow NSW Fair Trading greater flexibility to take action quickly. The changes will directly allow for enhanced outcomes for consumers and greater protection for the entire community.

The Act currently requires that the surplus after the sale of stored goods be deposited with the NSW Trustee & Guardian. The amendments will ensure that the balance of proceeds will be transferred to Revenue NSW under the provisions of the Unclaimed Money Act 1995 as a replacement for the NSW Trustee & Guardian, which is no longer the suitable depository for legislation in the portfolio. Revenue NSW is the appropriate handler of surplus after the sale of stored goods because it already looks after unclaimed money. Furthermore, Revenue NSW has a fast, free and accessible online search tool that allows members of the public to search for any unclaimed money. Service NSW centres can also be visited for this purpose. The proposed amendments will provide greater regulation of reclaiming money from the sale of stored goods and ensure efficiency for the public by making Revenue NSW the sole agency through which people can search for their money.

Schedule 5 to the bill amends the Residential Tenancies Act 2010. Landlords are not presently required to disclose their place of residence in a residential tenancy agreement if they do not reside in New South Wales. Consequently a tenant living in New South Wales who applies to the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal for remedies, unaware that their landlord lives in another jurisdiction, will be denied access to those remedies because the tribunal has no jurisdiction to determine the case. The proposed amendment resolves this issue by requiring landlords to disclose that information. The proposed changes do not impact the existing jurisdiction of the tribunal but rather make the process more transparent, simple and faster for tenants who seek redress. They will also ensure that, if necessary, matters are directed to the appropriate court in a timely fashion.

The proposed amendments seek to improve the renting experience for New South Wales tenants and better protect them. They evidence the Government's commitment to strengthening consumer protections. Furthermore, the bill is committed to reducing unnecessary administrative burden, especially for pawnbrokers and second‑hand goods businesses. Currently those people are required to keep a detailed record of the origin and owner of second‑hand goods in an effort to deter and identify trading of such goods. An exemption requires an amendment regulation with the approval of the Minister and Executive Council and the agreement of the Governor, which usually results in lengthy delays and increased cost for both the business and the Government. The proposed amendments will apply to all future exemption applications. The new exemptions process will allow the secretary to place conditions on, withdraw or vary an exemption at any time. That ensures that the agency can act fast in the event that the exemption is no longer deemed appropriate.

The bill includes an amendment to section 217 of the Property, Stock and Business Agents Act 2022 which clarifies that the limitation periods in the Criminal Procedure Act 1986 apply to certain charges under the Act. The amendment clarifies the law and decreases unnecessary legal procedure costs. The amendment does not change the objective of the Act but rather simplifies the process of bringing proceedings under the Property, Stock and Business Agents Act in culmination of the requirements of the Criminal Procedure Act. That ensures clarity and transparency. The bill is an integral part of the New South Wales Government's regular review of legislation. In particular, the proposed amendments will strengthen consumer protection, support businesses, reduce red tape, ensure greater clarity and transparency and close gaps in current legal processes. I thank the Minister and his staff. I commend the bill to the House.

Mr NATHANIEL SMITH (Wollondilly) (15:10):

:47 I speak in support of the Better Regulation Legislation Amendment Bill 2020. I commend our great Minister for Better Regulation and Innovation for introducing the bill to the House. As the Minister stated in his second reading speech, the Government is working hard to deliver practical reforms to ensure that NSW Fair Trading and other regulators can continue to administer laws effectively to provide greater transparency and protect consumers. That is very important, as was seen when the member for Lane Cove was the Minister for Fair Trading all those years ago in 2011. It is great to see that excellent work continuing.

I focus my contribution on the amendments relating to enforcement of search warrants, which I know former Minister Roberts was very passionate about during his time as fair trading Minister. Schedule 2 to the bill amends a number of Acts administered by NSW Fair Trading to permit, where appropriate, investigators or other authorised officers to execute search warrants without police presence. The amendments will enable swift compliance and enforcement action in circumstances that do not require police intervention. I touch briefly on the people, processes and systems in place for NSW Fair Trading to take on this task. NSW Fair Trading's team of investigators comprises highly qualified, well‑trained professionals who are dedicated to protecting New South Wales consumers. As such, they have the skills and the experience to navigate complex situations and will be able to assess whether police presence is likely to be needed when executing a search warrant.

NSW Fair Trading has rigorous and robust planning and risk assessment processes in place to execute search warrants confidently. Operational orders, which are approved by senior management, are put in place before carrying out a search warrant. The risk matrix in those operational orders ensures that all elements are considered and discussed by team members prior to executing a warrant. This includes discussion around the need for police presence and the safety of the public, staff and those subject to the warrant. NSW Fair Trading investigators have undertaken many search warrants and are highly trained in the ability to assess and calm situations. In addition, a number of team members in NSW Fair Trading's investigation and enforcement division are former New South Wales police officers who bring a wealth of knowledge, experience and understanding of field operational needs, including the execution of warrants. The good member for Goulburn, being a former investigator and officer of the Australian Federal Police, should know what I am talking about.

A significant majority of search warrants can be safely executed without the presence of New South Wales police. Fewer than 10 per cent of the search warrants currently executed by the investigations and enforcement division involve the presence of police officers. NSW Fair Trading has an excellent working relationship with the NSW Police Force. If police assistance is required, the amendments proposed by the bill will enable investigators to make that request of the NSW Police Force. I understand that the amendments in schedule 2 to the bill will align the Acts with a number of other New South Wales fair trading legislation, such as the Fair Trading Act 1987; the Tow Truck Industry Act 1998, which is quite an interesting one if members would like to research it; the Tattoo Parlours Act 2012—I have a couple of tattoo parlours in my electorate, and they will start operating again from 30 June following the easing of COVID restrictions—and the Property, Stock and Business Agents Act 2002.

None of these Acts require police to be present when a search warrant is being executed. I consider these amendments to be of great importance. They will achieve legislative consistency and make it easier for Fair Trading investigators to execute search warrants. Search warrants issued under the Acts being amended are currently only able to be executed when an authorised officer, as determined in each of the Acts, is accompanied by a police officer. Under these Acts warrants can be issued for a variety of matters, many of which are considered to be low-risk circumstances that do not necessitate police presence. Under these Acts the effectiveness of investigations and their resulting compliance and enforcement measures are heavily reliant on the availability of police officers.

The execution of search warrants can be delayed until a police officer is available to attend. This can provide time for evidence to be hidden or destroyed. Police officers may not be able to make themselves readily available for these matters due to other pressing issues. The fact that police officers are needlessly required for such low-risk matters prevents effective decision-making and action. These amendments will remove an unnecessary impost on the time of police officers. That being said, under the proposed amendments NSW Fair Trading investigators will still be able to call for the presence of a police officer when executing a search warrant if they believe the circumstances require police intervention. That is a sensible, middle ground approach.

By their nature, offences under these Acts often require urgent investigative action to protect consumers from harm. Search warrants need to be able to be executed swiftly in order to be effective. Impediments to the timing of their execution may result in greater danger to the public. The amendments provide NSW Fair Trading with greater flexibility to conduct investigations. The amendments will allow investigators to exercise their discretion with regard to whether or not police presence is needed when executing a search warrant. The ability to exercise discretion will assist investigators in avoiding unnecessary delays and excessive administrative processes.

These amendments make it clear that the New South Wales Government is committed to making changes that ensure our legislative framework operates as efficiently and effectively as possible. These amendments will assist in alleviating the workload of the NSW Police Force and reduce the number of low-risk search warrants requiring their attention. They can then continue to concentrate on higher risk matters to protect the people of New South Wales. Again we thank our great NSW Police Force for the amazing work they are doing to protect our community and keep us safe, especially during this COVID‑19 period. The proposed amendments will reduce the workload on New South Wales police officers. At the same time NSW Fair Trading will have adequate policies and procedures in place to ensure that any search warrants issued by a court are executed in a safe and appropriate manner. I commend the bill to the House.

Mr GURMESH SINGH (Coffs Harbour) (15:19):

:06 I speak in support of the Better Regulation Legislation Amendment Bill 2020. I commend the Minister for Better Regulation and Innovation for bringing this bill to the House. An important role of government is to ensure that legislation remains up to date and that provisions are fit for purpose and aligned with intended policy outcomes. The bill achieves that through amendments that increase consumer protection.

There are a number of motor dealers and repairers in my electorate, so I would like to speak particularly to the amendments relating to the Motor Dealers and Repairers Act 2013. These amendments seek to increase customer protection by providing the secretary with the power to cancel licences when they have been issued in error or due to misrepresentations, ensuring that repair work for transport service vehicles is carried out by a licensed motor vehicle repairer and allowing the regulations to prescribe the maximum amount payable from the Motor Dealers and Repairers Compensation Fund. The regulation of the automotive industry is important because it affects almost everybody in the New South Wales community. The automotive industry includes employees, business operators, vehicle owners, drivers and passengers on both private and public transport.

The automotive industry in Australia is estimated to contribute $37 billion to the Australian economy, employing over 356,000 people as at May 2018. New South Wales has the largest automotive industry in the nation, with almost 30 per cent of Australia's enterprises based here. For most people in New South Wales buying a car is often the second most significant purchase they make after their home. New South Wales residents are heavily reliant on motor vehicles in their daily lives. In our population of eight million people there are nearly seven million registered vehicles and more than six million who hold a driver licence. Vehicle ownership, particularly in regional areas where public transport is not as reliable as it is in metropolitan areas, is very important.

Providing additional powers for the secretary to cancel a licence if it is issued, renewed or restored in error or as a result of misrepresentation ensures that consumers, including owners and passengers of motor vehicles, are better protected. It also reduces red tape for the department and the applicant. As at 5 March 2020 there are over 6,100 individuals and over 8,600 organisations with motor dealer licences in New South Wales. The amendment brings the Motor Dealers and Repairers Act into line with other Acts within the portfolio of the Minister for Better Regulation and Innovation, such as the Home Building Act 1989. This provision is necessary for administrative purposes, otherwise the secretary is unable to cancel a licence due to administrative error. The amendment provides assurance that if a licence has been issued in error or as a result of misrepresentation it can be cancelled without going through a lengthy disciplinary process.

At present, in the Motor Dealers and Repairers Act there is no power to immediately cancel a licence if it has been issued in error or as a result of misrepresentation. A licence can only be cancelled after following the disciplinary action procedure under the Act and only if there were grounds for refusing to grant the licence when it was granted. This process takes time and is not the most effective way to resolve a licence cancellation resulting from an error or misrepresentation. An example of when this provision would apply is when an applicant provides the wrong information, such as an incorrect business address or name, in good faith. Under this proposal the licence can be cancelled without asking the licensee to respond to a show cause notice and undergo disciplinary action. This would also apply if the department issued a licence in error. The amendment also means that the Department of Customer Service can continue its work to streamline and digitise licence processes for motor dealers, motor vehicle repairers and motor vehicle recyclers with the knowledge that a licence can be cancelled in this new way.

The bill further safeguards consumer protection by ensuring that repair work for transport service vehicles is carried out by a licensed motor vehicle repairer. The amendment intends to close a regulatory gap. The existing regulations do not capture all situations in which a transport service business engages a person who supplies their own vehicle, for example, in freight services. This may result in non-minor repair work being conducted by unqualified persons. The bill amends the Act to ensure that all types of transport service vehicles used for transporting goods and passengers are captured. This includes freight and peer-to-peer car sharing vehicles. To ensure that all users of transport service vehicles are adequately protected, the bill creates a definition of "transport service vehicle". A transport service vehicle is defined as:

… a motor vehicle used for the carriage of passengers or goods in connection with a business.

This definition ensures the relevant vehicles are defined. It makes it clear that only a licensed motor vehicle repairer is able to carry out repair work on transport service vehicles. This amendment protects the safety of consumers, passengers and transport service vehicles alike. The amendments also apply the offence of permitting or carrying out non-minor repair work by an unlicensed motor vehicle repairer to transport service vehicles. This provides a deterrent to ensure compliance and consumer protection. Enabling the maximum amount in the Motor Dealers and Repairers Compensation Fund to be prescribed by the regulation provides for fit‑for‑purpose legislation to meet consumer protections now and in the future. This amendment means that the maximum amount, which is currently $40,000, can be adjusted with ease to account for trends in the pricing of motor vehicles. I am confident that the outcome of these amendments will strengthen protection for consumers. I am also confident that this bill will deliver useful administrative amendments that will provide greater clarity and certainty in the law and reduce red tape. I commend the bill to the House.

Mr ADAM CROUCH (Terrigal) (15:25):

:35 I speak in support of the Better Regulation Legislation Amendment Bill 2020. I commend the Minister for Better Regulation and Innovation for bringing the bill to the House. I enjoyed also his second reading speech on the Residential Apartment Buildings (Compliance and Enforcement) Bill this morning. It was very illuminating. This omnibus bill contains numerous miscellaneous amendments. I will focus on the two issues of storage liens and contract cleaning. As part of the bill, the way that unclaimed proceeds from the sale of goods are dealt with in storage liens situations will be modernised. Schedule 3 to the bill makes amendments to the Storage Liens Act 1935 that will require unclaimed money from the proceeds of sale to be dealt with under the Unclaimed Money Act 1995. This is consistent with other Acts that require compliance with the Unclaimed Money Act 1995 for any unclaimed sale proceeds.

The Storage Liens Act currently requires that the unclaimed proceeds of a sale must be provided to the NSW Trustee and Guardian. On the other hand, under the Unclaimed Money Act unclaimed proceeds are held by Revenue NSW. The system administrated and maintained by Revenue NSW allows customers to search for unclaimed money on an online database free of charge. These searches can also be carried out at any Service NSW centre—and what a fantastic product Service NSW is for the people of New South Wales. I know that the member for Lane Cove, who is present in the Chamber, has a Service NSW nearby and I am sure that the Deputy Speaker has a Service NSW in her electorate. Indeed, Erina has an excellent Service NSW. I congratulate Robyn and the team at Erina. The Service NSW centres at Woy Woy and Gosford also do a phenomenal job. They have been working particularly diligently throughout the COVID-19 crisis. In addition, the Service NSW 24/7 hotline number, 13 77 88—as members have become accustomed to informing constituents—is available for COVID-19 related inquiries.

The database provides a transparent, effective and efficient platform for consumers to easily search for unclaimed money. As a consequence, this amendment is a commonsense reform. Consumers will now be able to search for any unclaimed money in the one place. Bringing the process for dealing with unclaimed moneys under the Unclaimed Money Act 1995 will also reduce the existing duplicative processes and reduce administrative costs. As Minister Anderson said in his second reading speech, the NSW Trustee & Guardian is primarily concerned with public services such as the administration of deceased estates and the making of wills. It is no longer appropriate to require the NSW Trustee & Guardian to allocate resources towards keeping unclaimed proceeds when Revenue NSW has an established and incredibly effective system already in place.

I understand Revenue NSW currently looks after approximately 430,000 unclaimed items from a variety of sources. It makes sense to remove the burden of maintaining the care of unclaimed moneys from the NSW Trustee & Guardian—430,000 is a phenomenal number of unclaimed items. With these duties transferred to Revenue NSW, the NSW Trustee & Guardian will be able to allocate resources to areas of operation that might require more attention. Another aim of the Government is to ensure that legislation remains up to date and fit for purpose. The bill also makes amendments to tidy up outdated provisions in the Contract Cleaning Industry (Portable Long Service Scheme) Act 2010. We are absolutely committed to supporting all frontline services such as contract cleaning because, as the Premier regularly says, we are the party of the workers.

I take this opportunity to thank those employed in the cleaning industry in New South Wales for their commitment, dedication and hard work. While many staff have had the opportunity to work from home, frontline staff like cleaners have stepped up to the plate to ensure that the crucial services we rely on day in, day out continue to be COVID-19 friendly—whether it be those who ensure that our buses and trains are wiped down and sanitised, our hospitals stay clean and hygienic, and those businesses that have kept their doors open and kept people in jobs throughout this pandemic are cleaned.

It may appear that these are minor administrative changes, but every bit does help. It is crucial that the Government is able to make commonsense changes to our laws and regulations to keep our State moving. The proposed amendments remove references to the Australian Cleaning Contractors' Association, which ceased operation in December 2018. Instead, the amendments grant the Minister powers to appoint two persons to the committee who have knowledge of and experience in the contract cleaning industry. The amendments do not change the operation of the provision and will allow for nominations of representatives from the wider pool of industry employers. The bill also updates references to the United Voice (NSW Branch), which is now known as the United Workers Union (NSW Branch).

These amendments are examples of the relatively non-controversial amendments contained in the omnibus bill. They will contribute to the Government's aim to clarify and streamline regulatory requirements. I am confident the bill delivers practical reforms to support the good work across the Better Regulation and Innovation portfolio. I congratulate Minister Anderson and his incredibly hard-working team on their drafting of these amendments. The Minister has done an excellent job. He is getting on with the job. I commend the bill to the House.

Mr DUGALD SAUNDERS (Dubbo) (15:33):

:21 I speak in support of the Better Regulation Legislation Amendment Bill 2020. I commend the Minister for Better Regulation and Innovation for introducing this important number of reforms to the bill. The purpose of the bill is to make amendments to various Acts within the Better Regulation and Innovation portfolio, to address emerging issues, to support procedural improvements, to clarify a bit of uncertainty and to correct drafting errors in legislation. I am delighted to see that the Government is helping businesses to keep the doors open and to keep people employed in the extraordinary public health and economic crises brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic. The reforms will ensure the effective operation of legislation by removing unnecessary red tape and administrative burden.

I express my specific support for the amendments to the Pawnbrokers and Second‑hand Dealers Act 1996. The primary aim of the Pawnbrokers and Second‑hand Dealers Act is to restrict the trade of stolen goods by requiring licensed pawnbrokers and second‑hand dealers to observe minimum standards of conduct, including record-keeping. Under the Act licensees must keep detailed records of the origin and description of goods. Licensees must also require and record proof of identity from those who are pawning or selling second‑hand items. The Act allows certain licensees to seek an exemption from those record-keeping requirements; however, exemptions can currently only be prescribed in the regulations. Existing exemptions in the regulations include second‑hand dealers that receive and resell used mobile phones and tablets provided by telcos such as Optus and Telstra. These licensees are eligible for an exemption from the record-keeping requirements as the source and details of the original owner of a device has already been carefully recorded and the goods are not at high risk of theft.

The amendments in schedule 6 to the bill will simplify the process for which such exemptions may be granted. The process of granting exemptions in the regulations imposes unnecessary cost and it is also an extra administrative burden for the applicants as well as for the Government, which must then process each request for an exemption under the approval of the Minister and the Executive Council. The bill introduces a far more efficient and cost-effective process by giving the secretary the power to exempt persons from the operation of the Act or specified provisions of the Act by way of notice to the person. I am pleased to see that under the bill the existing exemptions prescribed by the regulation will continue to apply under the new regime; those businesses involved will not need to reapply, which is good.

The basis and assessment for granting an exemption will also remain unchanged. This means that the secretary will only provide an exemption where there are no real risks of dealing in stolen goods. The most significant change in the amendments is that future applications for an exemption will be dealt with via administrative means that require only the approval of the secretary. This will reduce regulatory burden for applicants and also for the Government. Importantly, the bill requires the secretary to publish details of exemptions on a publicly available website as soon as is practicable after an exemption has been granted. That way it is available to all. Having that information on the NSW Fair Trading website will give everyone public, quick, easy access to information relating to any exemption granted. The public will no longer have to look up the regulation to see whether an exemption applies, and that will help to improve transparency, accountability and public confidence in the Government's operation of the law.

It is important to note that while the bill seeks to remove legislative impediments and increase operational efficiency, this will not come at the cost of the ongoing protection of customers and their interests. On the contrary, the amendments contained in the bill provide specific provisions that are targeted to strengthen customer protection and also provide greater confidence in the law. Under the proposed amendments the secretary will have the power to prescribe conditions to any exemption granted. This includes the option of specifying a time limit for each exemption. The secretary may also revoke or vary an exemption at any time. These new powers for the secretary will help to ensure necessary regulatory oversight is maintained so that all exemptions granted are appropriate—again, an important measure.

Furthermore, the amendments contained in the bill streamline regulatory requirements by bringing the Act in alignment with other NSW Fair Trading legislation which makes provision for similar exemption powers. A streamlined approach to granting exemptions will certainly benefit consumers and will also benefit operational staff by providing consistency and reducing the potential for misunderstandings and disputes. I am confident that the amendments contained in the bill will deliver useful administrative changes that will continue to achieve the original intent of the Act, which is about strengthening customer protection but also maintaining integrity in the market.

This Government is committed to supporting small businesses. We know that small business is the backbone of the State economy and through this COVID-19 pandemic many have been doing it particularly tough, given restrictions imposed due to the pandemic, and certainly across regional areas that has been felt as much as anywhere. The amendments in the bill are about ensuring that legislation remains up to date, the provisions are fit for purpose and that they are all in line with the original policy intent. Once again I commend the Minister. I commend the bill to the House.

Mr LEE EVANS (Heathcote) (15:40):

:12 I speak in support of the Better Regulation Legislation Amendment Bill 2020. I commend the Minister for Better Regulation and Innovation for bringing this bill to the House. The bill makes amendments to various Acts within the Better Regulation and Innovation portfolio to address emerging issues, support procedural improvements, clarify uncertainty and correct drafting errors in legislation. I would like to focus my contribution today to the debate on amendments in the Better Regulation Legislation Amendment Bill 2019 relating to the Retail Trading Act 2008 and the Property, Stock and Business Agents Act 2002.

The amendments to the Retail Trading Act are minor and inconsequential but are still administratively important. The amendments are set out in schedule 4 to the bill. Although minor, any support this Government can provide to New South Wales small businesses is an absolute priority as the amendments combat the unprecedented health crisis and associated economic impacts brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic. New South Wales business conditions fell to -27 index points in April from -20 in March, which is lower than at any stage during the global financial crisis. Despite this, the New South Wales business confidence index rose to - 41 in April from -62 in March.

The New South Wales Government has been on the front foot to support businesses to get through to the other side of the pandemic. The Government has launched a 24-hour hotline to enable businesses greater access to advice and support on non-health-related COVID-19 matters; provided grants of up to $10,000 to businesses below the payroll tax threshold with between 0.5 and 19 full-time equivalent employees, with over $286 million in grants already approved as at 29 May 2020, and a further $122 million in process, with the closing date now extended to 30 June 2020; deferred payment of payroll tax for six months for all businesses to assist with cash flow; waived three months' worth of payroll tax for businesses whose small total grouped Australian wages for the 2019-20 financial year are no more than $10 million; brought forward payroll tax cuts, with the payroll tax threshold going from $900,000 to $1 million from 1 July 2020, saving eligible businesses thousands of dollars per year; and waived a range of fees and charges, including $50 million worth of licence fees for up to 200,000 tradies and $19.5 million worth of fees for the entertainment and hospitality sectors.

In addition, the Government has given effect to the National Code of Conduct for commercial tenancies impacted by COVID-19 to provide a framework for landlords and tenants to get through this crisis; delivered a $440 million land tax relief package for eligible landlords who support their residential and commercial tenants; boosted the NSW Small Business Commission with $10 million to increase mediation services between commercial landlords and tenants; accelerated the payment of our suppliers, injecting more than $2 billion into the economy; amended planning rules to allow food trucks and dark kitchens to operate on any land at any time with a landowner's consent; provided more flexibility to supermarkets and pharmacies to operate around the clock to meet the needs of customers; relaxed liquor licensing compliance—set out in the Liquor Act 2007 and the Liquor Regulation 2018—to allow licensed venues such as restaurants, cafes and small bars to sell alcohol for off-site consumption.

Further, the Government has injected more than $14 million into Business Connect to engage 30 additional business advisers and to ensure the program continues for another 12 months to support businesses through these tough times; rolled out free webinars for small businesses doing it tough on topics that included "how to maximise cashflow", "turning your restaurant into a ghost kitchen" and "marketing to pivot your business". It has rolled out 21 fee‑free TAFE NSW short online courses to assist anyone who wants to upskill during the COVID‑19 pandemic, including e-marketing for small business, social media customer engagement, writing and presentation skills and team leader skills; and allowed construction sites to operate on weekends and public holidays to enable construction projects to progress while workers follow social distancing guidelines, which potentially limits the number of workers on a site at a given time.

The Government has introduced a $12.6 million support package for the taxi industry to provide operators with financial relief during the COVID-19 shutdown. It has also provided a $50 million rescue and restart package for NSW arts and cultural organisations, including funding, available now, to enable NSW not‑for‑profit arts and cultural organisations to hibernate temporarily, with further funding available in the coming months to enable those organisations to restart operations after the COVID‑19 pandemic. The NSW Small Business Commission's COVID‑19 survey of 21 May 2020 notes that 97 per cent of businesses are aware of at least one type of government support package, with 78 per cent of businesses applying for, or already receiving, support.

The main amendment in the bill is to allow the secretary to approve forms that would ordinarily be prescribed by regulation. Towards the end of 2018 the Retail Trading Act 2008 came under the administration of the Minister for Better Regulation and Innovation. As a result of its late inclusion, the Retail Trading Act missed out on the opportunity to be part of the Better Business Reforms package that passed Parliament in 2018. The package included reforms relating to the removal of prescribed forms in regulations.

Currently the Act grants the secretary power to exempt shops from trading restrictions. Exemptions can be granted only if an application for an exemption has been filed. An application for an exemption under the current Act must be made in the manner and form prescribed by the Retail Trading Regulation. Should the prescribed form require amending, the regulation would also be required to be amended in the process. The benefit of using approved forms is that they can be updated and amended when required without the administrative burden of having also to amend the prescribing regulation, which requires approval by the Executive Council. As a result the process for amending prescribed forms is more expedient and efficient.

The various amendments contained in the bill also clarify legislation. In particular, schedule 7.3 to the bill amends section 217 of the Property, Stock and Business Agents Act 2002 to clarify the time limit for bringing proceedings under that Act. The amendment clarifies that no statutory limitation period applies to indictable prosecutions for offences under the Act. The issue has arisen because in court proceedings the provision has been used as a loophole to argue that cases have been brought outside the statutory time frame. As the Minister mentioned in his second reading speech, those arguments prolong hearings and have major impacts on the efficiency of the court. The amendment is necessary to prevent valuable court time being wasted and to provide certainty as to the Parliament's intention that no statutory limitation period should apply for indictable offences.

I am running out of time to speak about this fantastic bill. This bill, in aligning the Retail Trading Act with other legislation in the Better Regulation and Innovation portfolio, ensures the reduction of unnecessary red tape and administrative burden. The processes associated with secretary‑approved forms are more efficient and effective than changing a form prescribed in a regulation. The amendment to the Property, Stock and Business Agents Act clarifies proper processes and time frames. I commend the bill to the House.

Ms FELICITY WILSON (North Shore) (15:49):

:38 I speak in support of the Better Regulation Legislation Amendment Bill 2020. I commend the Minister for Better Regulation and Innovation, his team and department for their work in bringing the bill to the House. The purpose of the bill is to make amendments to various Acts within the Better Regulation and Innovation portfolio to address emerging issues, support procedural improvements, clarify uncertainty and correct drafting errors in legislation. The reforms ensure the effective operation of legislation by removing unnecessary red tape and administrative burden.

In particular, I express my support for the amendments to the Gas and Electricity (Consumer Safety) Act 2017 in schedule 7 to the bill. They are essential amendments that will provide stronger consumer protections and clarify the legislation. The bill amends the definition of "electrical installation" to clarify that it excludes transmission electricity meters that are owned by an electricity supply authority and located at a place owned or occupied by the authority. As a result of opening up competition in metering services on a national basis, the Act was amended in 2016 to ensure that work on residential meters was subject to the safety testing and compliance standards applicable to other installations. However, the unintended effect of this 2016 amendment to the definition of "electrical installation" was to capture meters used by network operators as part of their network systems. That has inadvertently captured work conducted on transmission apparatus such as transmission electricity meters, a highly specialised activity with installations designed for the safe and secure operation of the transmission network. The bill therefore gives effect to the intention of Parliament to capture only residential meters.

The bill amends section 5 of the Gas and Electricity (Consumer Safety) Act to ensure gas meters in the workplace are appropriately tested and examined. At the time the Act was developed it was planned that the Commonwealth would take over the responsibility for the regulation of gas meters. Due to delays in the review of the national measurement law, the requirements for the examination and testing of gas meters was included in the Gas and Electricity (Consumer Safety) Regulation 2018. To ensure that the existing State‑based regulation of gas meters is maintained, the amendments will provide a permanent solution to capture the examination and testing of gas meters.

The bill will enable the secretary to grant exemptions for certain persons, classes of persons, gas appliances and gas installations from the provisions of the Act relating to the sale and connection of uncertified gas appliances. The gas‑related exemption power in the superseded Gas Supply (Consumer Safety) Regulation 2012 was not carried over to the Act. The Act provides exemption powers for electrical articles but does not provide an equivalent for gas appliances. This amendment will rectify the imbalance. The removal of this clause has had unintended consequences for the industry, affording a commercial advantage to companies that were exempt prior to the current Act. It has also prevented new suppliers from competing in specific markets; in particular, where items do not comply with any existing standards, such as gas fire extinguisher systems. The bill will address that inequity.

The bill will also amend the definition of "trade certificate" in section 33 (3) of the Act. The amended definition will include a tradesperson's certificate to capture autogas installations that are designed for use with liquefied natural gas. Existing provisions in the Act capture only autogas installations that are designed for use with liquefied petroleum gas and compressed natural gas. The amendments to the definition of "trade certificate" in the Act will ensure that all types of autogas installation work are covered, thereby ensuring consumers are fully and adequately protected.

To further improve consumer protection, the bill expands the existing gas‑ and electrical‑related investigation powers of NSW Fair Trading to allow investigations of autogas installations. This reform enables NSW Fair Trading investigators to investigate and prohibit the sale and use of unsafe autogas installations, protecting the public from unsafe work. Currently when unsafe autogas installations are being used, authorised officers do not have the authority to issue defect notices for unsafe autogas installations.

Authorised officers are restricted to issuing a defect notice to the person responsible for gasfitting work on a gas installation. The bill addresses this. It contains a range of enforcement provisions for the investigation and inspection of electrical and gas installations. These powers will be expanded to capture autogas installations, which will enable an authorised officer with written authority from the secretary to enter a place, inspect and take copies of documents to provide evidence of prohibited conduct. An authorised officer will also be able to prohibit the sale and use of an unsafe autogas installation. An autogas installation is defined as a vehicle, vessel or machine that an autogas installation is installed in or forms part of. It is vital that the powers contained in this bill are provided to the department so that the public can be sure that the New South Wales Government is able to effectively investigate and prohibit unsafe autogas installations.

Selling a prohibited autogas installation where a notice has been issued or label affixed can incur a maximum penalty of 5,000 to 7,500 penalty units for a body corporate and 500 in any other case for a first offence. This is necessary to act as a deterrent to those who may do the wrong thing and to encourage compliance. These powers are necessary when dealing with matters of public safety and will ensure that the department has the necessary tools to give effect to the objectives of the bill. The proposals presented in the bill will significantly assist with increasing the effectiveness of the gas and electricity legislation to ensure that autogas installations are compliant with essential standards. I commend the bill to the House.

Mr KEVIN CONOLLY (Riverstone) (15:56):

:12 I support the Better Regulation Legislation Amendment Bill 2020 and I commend the Minister for Better Regulation and Innovation for bringing the bill to the House. He is a down-to-earth, sensible Minister who gets on with and does the job, just like the Minister for Counter Terrorism and Corrections, who is in the Chamber. This bill, like many others that come before this House, is a collection of, in themselves, fairly minor amendments that cumulatively need to be undertaken to ensure that legislation remains fit for purpose and that the needs of the consumers in our community are protected as changes come to light and procedures are exposed that are not as good as they should be. It is an ongoing process of monitoring and improvement to make sure that legislation does the job in the best possible way for the people in our community.

The particular aspects of this amendment bill that I will examine are those that seek to strengthen consumer protection by making minor but important amendments to a number of pieces of legislation. I will speak firstly to the amendments relating to the Motor Dealers and Repairers Act 2013. The bill amends the Act to strengthen protection for consumers by providing a power for the secretary to cancel licences in instances of error or misrepresentation; by creating an offence for permitting or carrying out non-minor repair work by an unlicensed repairer; and by allowing the regulations to prescribe the maximum amount payable from the Motor Dealers and Repairers Compensation Fund.

There is currently no power under the Motor Dealers and Repairers Act 2013 to immediately cancel a licence if it is issued, renewed or restored in error or as a result of misrepresentation. A licence can be cancelled only if it has been improperly obtained and after following the process for disciplinary action under the Act. This process can take some time and any undue delay in the cancellation of a licence issued in error or by fraud may cause significant detriment to consumers. In addition to reducing red tape, the amendment contained in the bill ensures that consumers are better protected by enabling the secretary to immediately cancel licences if they are issued, renewed or restored as a result of error or misrepresentation. This is a commonsense amendment. It would be expected by the community that if the licence should not have been issued in the first place or it was obtained by fraud, the secretary could act immediately to correct the error.

The bill further strengthens and safeguards consumer protection by clarifying that all non-minor repair work associated with transport service vehicles must be carried out by a licensed motor vehicle repairer. The Passenger Transport (General) Regulation 2017 and the Point to Point Transport (Taxis and Hire Vehicles) Regulation 2017 currently prohibit unqualified repairers from conducting any non-minor repair work to taxis, hire cars and Uber vehicles. However, these regulations do not cover all instances where a transport service business engages the person who supplies their own vehicle, such as freight services. This may result in repair works in those cases being undertaken by unqualified persons. This has the potential to put people at risk, including the driver, passengers, the person undertaking the work and the general public.

There is a public safety interest in ensuring that repairs to transport service vehicles—other than very basic or minor maintenance—are undertaken only by persons with appropriate qualifications. The bill achieves this by creating a strict liability offence if any person authorises or carries out non-minor repair work by an unlicensed repairer. Imposing strict liability for noncompliance reflects this Government's paramount commitment to public safety. It also reflects the seriousness of harm that may result if motor vehicle repairs are undertaken by unqualified persons. The proposed amendment helps mitigate those risks and complements safety standards already provided under the passenger transport and point-to-point regulations. The amendment is necessary to protect our citizens and improve safety on New South Wales roads. We are talking about vehicles that are on the road more often than the average passenger vehicle or privately owned vehicle. Because they are used for business, freight services or point-to-point transport, they are on the road much more often. The risk involved to the community is increased by the extra usage and mileage that is being incurred.

I note that the bill also makes amendments relating to the Gas and Electricity (Consumer Safety) Act 2017. The bill amends this Act to expand the powers of NSW Fair Trading to investigate and prohibit the sale and use of unsafe autogas installations. Currently the investigative powers of Fair Trading are limited to gasfitting work and gas installation, which does not include autogas installations. Consultation with Fair Trading revealed that unsafe autogas installations are currently being used in the market. Providing authorised investigators with the power to inspect and take action against unsafe autogas installations is therefore necessary to protect consumers from foreseeable risks of harm. Data gathered from compliance action could also be applied for other useful purposes, including issuing product safety warnings to the public. I am confident that the outcome of these amendments to the Motor Dealers and Repairers Act 2013 and the Gas and Electricity (Consumer Safety) Act 2017 will bring a significant and positive change for the citizens of New South Wales.

I observe that when consumers make complaints to Fair Trading it may sometimes seem that they do not get an immediate outcome and the law does not provide for the sort of response they expect. But it is by compiling and monitoring these trends of complaints and reports that Fair Trading can come back with legislation like this to close loopholes, improve safeguards and improve the way that regulatory processes work to protect consumers. By harvesting the information that consumer feedback provides we arrive at better outcomes. These reforms reflect the Government's commitment to customer service by ensuring that laws maintain high standards of consumer safety and provide appropriate enforcement measures against noncompliance. I commend the Minister for Better Regulation and Innovation for bringing this bill to the House and for implementing these important consumer protection reforms.

Mr KEVIN ANDERSON (TamworthMinister for Better Regulation and Innovation) (16:02):

—:07 In reply: I thank all members for their contributions to debate on the Better Regulation Legislation Amendment Bill 2020, particularly the member for Holsworthy, the member for Wollondilly, the member for Coffs Harbour, the member for Terrigal, the member for Dubbo, the member for North Shore, the member for Heathcote and the member for Riverstone. I also thank the member for Granville, with whom it is a pleasure to work when it comes to looking at various pieces of legislation. We value her advice and her feedback. Ultimately we all want better legislation for the betterment of our communities right across New South Wales. I thank the member for Granville for her cooperation and input.

I also thank the member for Wollondilly for his comments, particularly in relation to providing flexibility for the execution of search warrants. It is an important amendment in the bill, and I appreciate his support and interest in it. NSW Fair Trading officers are highly experienced and well trained to administer warrants and police can be freed up to do more of the great work that they do day in, day out. NSW Fair Trading can still call upon police to have an officer present, which means that this amendment provides a sensible middle‑ground approach. I thank the member for Wollondilly for his interest and support.

As previously stated, an important role of government is to ensure that legislation remains up to date and that its provisions are fit for purpose and in line with the original policy intent. The bill achieves this by ensuring strong customer and consumer protections by inserting specificity powers, clarifying legislative intent and reducing uncertainty, and clarifying and streamlining regulatory requirements and removing unnecessary red tape. Reforms such as the amendment to provide exemptions from record‑keeping requirements for pawnbrokers and second‑hand dealers will support small businesses and reduce red tape. The amendments relating to search warrants will allow NSW Fair Trading to take action swiftly and will reduce the pressure on New South Wales police. This reform will allow New South Wales police to divert their resources to matters where police intervention is necessary, and will provide NSW Fair Trading with greater flexibility when executing search warrants. The amendments to the Motor Dealers and Repairers Act 2013 will improve the administration of the licensing regime. These amendments are an important step towards enhancing consumer protection in New South Wales.

Furthermore, the bill also makes a number of amendments that clarify and streamline regulatory requirements. One such amendment is the reform relating to the Residential Tenancies Act 2010 and the requirement for landlords outside of New South Wales to disclose the jurisdiction in which they reside in residential tenancy agreements. This reform will allow tenants to seek redress faster and will enable the tribunal to refer matters appropriately where required. I note that the member for Granville has flagged that two amendments will be moved in the other place—one is in relation to this and the other in relation to the inspection of trailers and boat trailers. I am confident that this bill will deliver meaningful administrative amendments for the citizens of New South Wales and small businesses. It demonstrates the Government's continued commitment to protecting the rights of citizens in New South Wales, reducing and removing unnecessary red tape, and providing greater clarity and certainty in the law. I commend the bill to the House.

The DEPUTY SPEAKER:

The question is that this bill be now read a second time.

Motion agreed to.

Third Reading

Mr KEVIN ANDERSON:

I move:

That this bill be now read a third time.

Motion agreed to.

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