Bills

ANZAC Day Commemoration (Veterans' Advisory Council) Amendment Bill

Introduction and First Reading

The Hon. M.L.J. HAMILTON-SMITH (Waite—Minister for Investment and Trade, Minister for Small Business, Minister for Defence Industries, Minister for Veterans' Affairs) (15:54): Obtained leave and introduced a bill for an act to amend the ANZAC Day Commemoration Act 2005. Read a first time.

Second Reading

The Hon. M.L.J. HAMILTON-SMITH (Waite—Minister for Investment and Trade, Minister for Small Business, Minister for Defence Industries, Minister for Veterans' Affairs) (15:55): I move:

That this bill be now read a second time.

In July 2014, Premier Weatherill announced that every government board and committee would be abolished unless it could demonstrate that it had an essential purpose. The scope of this review included 429 government boards and committees. The review recommended that the Veterans' Advisory Council be retained. The review further determined that in order to streamline services to veterans and improve process, the functions of the ANZAC Day Commemoration Council should transfer to the Veterans' Advisory Council, its appointment process be simplified and responsibility should be transferred to the Minister for Veterans' Affairs.

I seek leave to have the remainder of the second reading explanation inserted in Hansard without my reading it.

Leave granted.

In July 2014 Premier Weatherill announced that every government board and committee would be abolished unless it could demonstrate that it had an essential purpose. The scope of this review included 429 government boards and committees.

The review recommended that the Veterans' Advisory Council be retained. The review further determined that the functions of the ANZAC Day Commemoration Council are to transfer to the Veterans' Advisory Council, its appointment process simplified, and responsibility will transfer to the Minister for Veterans' Affairs.

Following the passing of the Statutes Amendments (Boards and Committees – Abolition and Reform) Act 2015 in August 2015, responsibility for the ANZAC Day Commemoration Council was transferred to the Minister for Veterans' Affairs.

The ANZAC Day Commemoration Council has two functions:

to keep and administer the Anzac Day Commemoration Fund; and

to carry out such other functions as may be assigned to the Council by the Minister.

The functions relating to the Fund will transfer to the Minister for Veterans' Affairs. Each application made to the Minister for a payment out of the Fund must be referred to the Veterans' Advisory Council for its consideration. The Veterans' Advisory Council will make recommendations to the Minister in relation to such applications as the Council thinks fit.

The Veterans' Advisory Council, so ably chaired by Air Vice Marshal Brent Espeland AM (Retd) will continue to promote the wellbeing of the South Australian ex-service community, promote co-operation across ex-service organisations in South Australia and monitor and provide advice to the State Government about matters that concern the veteran community with a particular focus on contemporary veterans.

It is intended to enact the transfer of the functions of the ANZAC Day Commemoration Council to the Veterans' Advisory Council and the Minister for Veterans' Affairs with effect from 1 July 2017 to align with the expiry dates of the majority of current ANZAC Day Commemoration Council members.

I commend the Bill to honourable members.

Explanation of Clauses

Part 1—Preliminary

1—Short title

2—Commencement

3—Amendment provisions

These clauses are formal.

Part 2—Amendment of ANZAC Day Commemoration Act 2005

4—Amendment of section 3—Interpretation

This clause deletes the current definition of Council and substitutes a definition of the Veterans' Advisory Council.

5—Repeal of Part 2

This clause repeals Part 2 (which formerly established the Anzac Day Commemoration Council).

6—Amendment of section 15—Establishment of Fund

7—Amendment of section 16—Application of Fund

Clauses 6 and 7 transfer functions relating to the Fund from the Anzac Day Commemoration Council to the Minister but require consultation with the Veterans' Advisory Council.

8—Repeal of section 17

This clause repeals section 17 as it is no longer necessary.

Debate adjourned on motion of Mr Treloar.