Social Workers Registration Amendment Bill
Members, we now come to clauses 1 to 3. This is the debate on title, commencement, and principal Act. The question is that clause 1 stand part—oh, sorry. I call Glen Bennett.
Thank you, Madam Chair—and it’s still Tuesday, so I understand it’s been a long, long day.
I’m just looking at the title and there seems to be no need to change it, to be honest. I agree with that. I just wanted clarity in terms of the commencement date. So this bill will come into force on 1 July 2025. What is the significance of that date? Is that three months from today? Is that the reason?
I just want to understand the reason for the date. Is it because we’re moving forward and we want to make it happen? Is this within the legislative framework—it is legitimately a three-month process—or is there another reason for that? It’s just so that we can be clear that it is to set things in place, and that the Social Workers Registration Board, with the work that’s been done, will be up to speed and able to implement the changes that have been made in this technical piece of legislation.
The date 1 July is a fairly standard date for legislation—it’s the first part of the next half-year, and it just allows sufficient time for the changes to be put in place.
Thank you, Madam Chair. Thank you, Minister, for that response in terms of the commencement date. Can I just check: so, the Minister for Social Development and Employment, then, is confident that, for example, if we’re looking at clauses 18 and 19 of the amendment bill, in terms of switching over the power from the previous chief executive to the board system, the appointment process as well as the transition power will be complete under replacement section 116, inserted by clause 17? Oh, I think the Minister is getting—is that a nod? That’s a yes, or a nod that you acknowledge the question?
Just to clarify, Royal assent is the date on which most of the provisions come into place, but for other measures, it’s 1 July to allow the transfer of those functions to occur. There’s nothing surprising here.
Clause 1 agreed to.
Clause 2 agreed to.
Clause 3 agreed to.
Bill to be reported with amendment.
House resumed.
Madam Speaker, the committee has considered the Social Workers Registration Amendment Bill and reports it with amendment. I move, That the report be adopted.
Motion agreed to.
Report adopted.
The bill is set down for third reading immediately.
Third Reading