2014
THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY
FOR THE AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY

(As presented)
(Chief Minister)
Dangerous Substances (Asbestos Safety Reform) Legislation Amendment Bill 2014

Contents
	Page
Part 1	Preliminary
	1	Name of Act	2
	2	Commencement	2
	3	Legislation amended	2
Part 2	Building Act 2004
	4	Contravention of requirements for building work involving asbestos
Section 42A (2) (a)	3
	5	New section 42A (5)	3
	6	Meaning of prescribed requirements—div 5.1
Section 66, definition of prescribed requirements, paragraph (a)	3
	7	Dictionary, new definition of asbestos	4
	8	Dictionary, definition of friable asbestos and examples and note	4
Part 3	Building (General) Regulation 2008
	9	Dictionary
Section 3, note 1	5
	10	Bonded asbestos removal—Act, s 26 (3)
Section 14 (2) and (3)	5
	11	Section 15	5
	12	Dictionary, note 3	6
	13	Dictionary, definition of asbestos	6
Part 4	Construction Occupations (Licensing) Act 2004
	14	What is a construction occupation?
Section 7 (a) and (b)	7
	15	Who is an asbestos assessor?
Section 7A	7
	16	What is an asbestos removalist?
Section 7B	7
	17	Suspension of licence—public safety
Section 52A (1), example 1	7
	18	Construction occupations registrar
Section 103 (2) (a)	7
	19	Dictionary	7
Part 5	Construction Occupations (Licensing) Regulation 2004
	20	Licence applications—Act, s 17 (3)
Section 5 (h) (i)	8
	21	Term of licences generally—Act, s 24
Section 7 (1) (f)	8
	22	Section 8 heading	8
	23	Section 8 (1) (a)	8
	24	Particulars in register
Section 9 (1) (c) (i)	8
	25	Corporations and partnerships eligible for some occupations
Section 15 (1) (a)	8
	26	Eligibility to be asbestos removalist
Section 15A	9
	27	Eligibility to be asbestos assessor
Section 16A	9
	28	Services that may be provided without licence
Section 35 (2)	9
	29	Section 35 (4), definition of relevant asbestos qualification	9
	30	Classes of asbestos assessor
Section 36A	9
	31	Classes of asbestos removalist
Section 36B	9
	32	Asbestos assessor
Schedule 1, part 1.1	9
	33	Asbestos removalist
Schedule 1, part 1.2	10
	34	Dictionary, definition of bonded asbestos	10
Part 6	Dangerous Substances Act 2004
	35	Exclusions from Act
New section 7 (1A)	11
	36	Failure to comply with safety duty—exposing people to substantial risk of death or serious harm
Section 43 (1), new example	12
	37	Important concepts
Part 3A.1	12
	38	Public education
Part 3A.3 heading	12
	39	Asbestos advice and assessment reports
Part 3A.4 heading	12
	40	Asbestos assessment reports
Section 47K (1)	13
	41	Section 47K (2)	13
	42	Requirement to give asbestos assessment report
Section 47L (1) (b)	13
	43	Section 47L (4)	13
	44	Dictionary, definition of asbestos	14
Part 7	Dangerous Substances (General) Regulation 2004
	45	Dictionary
Section 3, notes	15
	46	Chapter 3 heading	15
	47	Sections 301 and 302	15
	48	Section 303 heading	16
	49	Section 303	16
	50	Section 303, new note	16
	51	Section 304 heading	16
	52	Section 304	16
	53	Section 304, new note	17
	54	Section 305 heading	17
	55	Section 305	17
	56	Part 3.2 heading and notes	17
	57	Sections 306 to 310	18
	58	Asbestos management—non-residential premises
Part 3.4	21
	59	Dictionary, new definitions	21
	60	Dictionary, definitions of asbestos management plan, asbestos product and asbestos register	21
	61	Dictionary, new definition of asbestos-related work	21
	62	Dictionary	22
	63	Dictionary, definition of risk assessment	22
Part 8	Work Health and Safety Act 2011
	64	Approved codes of practice
Section 274 (2)	23

2014
THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY
FOR THE AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY

(As presented)
(Chief Minister)
Dangerous Substances (Asbestos Safety Reform) Legislation Amendment Bill 2014

A Bill for
An Act to amend legislation about asbestos

    

The Legislative Assembly for the Australian Capital Territory enacts as follows:

Part 1	Preliminary
1	Name of Act
This Act is the Dangerous Substances (Asbestos Safety Reform) Legislation Amendment Act 2014.
2	Commencement
This Act commences on 1 January 2015.
Note	The naming and commencement provisions automatically commence on the notification day (see Legislation Act, s 75 (1)).
3	Legislation amended
This Act amends the following legislation:
·	Building Act 2004
·	Building (General) Regulation 2008
·	Construction Occupations (Licensing) Act 2004
·	Construction Occupations (Licensing) Regulation 2004
·	Dangerous Substances Act 2004
·	Dangerous Substances (General) Regulation 2004
·	Work Health and Safety Act 2011.

Part 2	Building Act 2004
4	Contravention of requirements for building work involving asbestos
Section 42A (2) (a)
substitute
	(a)	the person is—
	(i)	a licensed builder; or
	(ii)	a licensed asbestos assessor; or
	(iii)	a licensed asbestos removalist; and
	(aa)	carries out the building work; and
5	New section 42A (5)
insert
	(5)	In this section:
licensed asbestos assessor—see the Work Health and Safety Regulation 2011, dictionary.
licensed asbestos removalist—see the Work Health and Safety Regulation 2011, dictionary.
6	Meaning of prescribed requirements—div 5.1
Section 66, definition of prescribed requirements, paragraph (a)
substitute
	(a)	if the building work involves handling asbestos or disturbing friable asbestos—the requirements of—
	(i)	this Act; and
	(ii)	the Work Health and Safety Act 2011; or
7	Dictionary, new definition of asbestos
insert
asbestos—see the Work Health and Safety Regulation 2011, dictionary.
8	Dictionary, definition of friable asbestos and examples and note
substitute
friable asbestos—see the Work Health and Safety Regulation 2011, dictionary.

Part 3	Building (General) Regulation 2008
9	Dictionary
Section 3, note 1
substitute
Note 1	The dictionary at the end of this regulation defines certain terms used in this regulation, and includes references (signpost definitions) to other terms defined elsewhere in this regulation.
	For example, the signpost definition ‘ActewAGL Distribution, for schedule 2 (Referral of building approval applications)—see schedule 2, section 2.1.’ means that the term ‘ActewAGL Distribution’ is defined in that section for schedule 2.
10	Bonded asbestos removal—Act, s 26 (3)
Section 14 (2) and (3)
substitute
	(2)	The application must include an asbestos removal control plan for the removal.
11	Section 15
substitute
15	Friable asbestos removal—Act, s 26 (3)
	(1)	This section applies to an application for building approval involving the removal of friable asbestos from a residential building.
	(2)	The application must include an asbestos removal control plan for the removal.
12	Dictionary, note 3
insert
·	asbestos
·	friable asbestos
13	Dictionary, definition of asbestos
omit

Part 4	Construction Occupations (Licensing) Act 2004
14	What is a construction occupation?
Section 7 (a) and (b)
omit
15	Who is an asbestos assessor?
Section 7A
omit
16	What is an asbestos removalist?
Section 7B
omit
17	Suspension of licence—public safety
Section 52A (1), example 1
omit
18	Construction occupations registrar
Section 103 (2) (a)
omit
19	Dictionary
omit the definitions of
asbestos assessment service
asbestos assessor
asbestos removalist
asbestos removal service

Part 5	Construction Occupations (Licensing) Regulation 2004
20	Licence applications—Act, s 17 (3)
Section 5 (h) (i)
omit
21	Term of licences generally—Act, s 24
Section 7 (1) (f)
omit
22	Section 8 heading
substitute
8	Term of licence for building assessors, building surveyors, plumbing plan certifiers and works assessors—Act, s 24
23	Section 8 (1) (a)
omit
24	Particulars in register
Section 9 (1) (c) (i)
omit
25	Corporations and partnerships eligible for some occupations
Section 15 (1) (a)
omit
26	Eligibility to be asbestos removalist
Section 15A
omit
27	Eligibility to be asbestos assessor
Section 16A
omit
28	Services that may be provided without licence
Section 35 (2)
substitute
Note	Construction service does not include asbestos removal work (see Act, s 6).
29	Section 35 (4), definition of relevant asbestos qualification
omit
30	Classes of asbestos assessor
Section 36A
omit
31	Classes of asbestos removalist
Section 36B
omit
32	Asbestos assessor
Schedule 1, part 1.1
omit
33	Asbestos removalist
Schedule 1, part 1.2
omit
34	Dictionary, definition of bonded asbestos
omit

Part 6	Dangerous Substances Act 2004
35	Exclusions from Act
New section 7 (1A)
insert
	(1A)	This Act, other than the following sections, applies to the handling of asbestos only if the handling is non-commercial handling:
	(a)	section 13 (Correctly classified for a dangerous substance);
	(b)	section 14 (Correctly for packed, stored, labelled and placarded);
	(c)	section 75 (Unauthorised import of certain dangerous substances);
	(d)	section 76 (Unauthorised supply of certain dangerous substances);
	(e)	section 77 (Unauthorised possession of certain dangerous substances).
Note	Asbestos is also dealt with in the Work Health and Safety Regulation 2011.  See s 8 and s 8A for the relationship of this Act to the WHS Act.
36	Failure to comply with safety duty—exposing people to substantial risk of death or serious harm
Section 43 (1), new example
before the note, insert
2	Caroline receives a letter from the ACT Government, advising her that her house contains loose-fill asbestos insulation and alerting her to the dangers associated with this form of insulation.  The letter also informs Caroline that she must engage a licensed asbestos assessor and a licensed asbestos removalist before undertaking any work on the house, and to inform anyone carrying out work on the house that the house contains loose-fill asbestos insulation.  After receiving the letter, Caroline engages a gasfitter to repair the heating system located in the ceiling cavity of the house, without telling the gasfitter, or taking any other steps to make the gasfitter aware, that the house contains loose-fill asbestos insulation.  Caroline is reckless about whether her failure to tell the gasfitter about the loose-fill asbestos insulation exposes the gasfitter to a substantial risk of serious harm.  Caroline commits an offence against this section because asbestos is a dangerous substance and, under the general safety duty of everyone involved in handling a dangerous substance, she must take all reasonable steps to minimise the risks resulting from handling the substance (see s 23 and s 41).  Handling a dangerous substance includes possessing, or otherwise having custody or control of, the substance (see s 11).  
37	Important concepts
Part 3A.1
omit
38	Public education
Part 3A.3 heading
omit
39	Asbestos advice and assessment reports
Part 3A.4 heading
omit
40	Asbestos assessment reports
Section 47K (1)
omit
an asbestos assessor
substitute
a licensed asbestos assessor
41	Section 47K (2)
substitute
	(2)	In this section:
licensed asbestos assessor—see the Work Health and Safety Regulation 2011, dictionary.
42	Requirement to give asbestos assessment report
Section 47L (1) (b)
substitute
	(b)	an owner, or occupier, (the owner) of the premises engages someone (the worker) to undertake work involving asbestos.
Note	Involves—see s (4).
43	Section 47L (4)
substitute
	(4)	In this section:
involves—see the Work Health and Safety Regulation 2011, section 419 (2).
44	Dictionary, definition of asbestos
substitute
asbestos—see the Work Health and Safety Regulation 2011, dictionary.

Part 7	Dangerous Substances (General) Regulation 2004
45	Dictionary
Section 3, notes
substitute
Note 1	The dictionary at the end of this regulation defines certain terms used in this regulation, and includes references (signpost definitions) to other terms defined elsewhere.
For example, the signpost definition ‘emergency service, for chapter 2 (Certain dangerous substances)—see the Emergencies Act 2004, dictionary.’ means that the term ‘emergency service’ is defined in that dictionary and the definition applies to this regulation.
Note 2	A definition in the dictionary (including a signpost definition) applies to the entire regulation unless the definition, or another provision of the regulation, provides otherwise or the contrary intention otherwise appears (see Legislation Act, s 155 and s 156 (1)).
46	Chapter 3 heading
substitute
Chapter 3	Asbestos and asbestos containing material
47	Sections 301 and 302
substitute
301	Meaning of asbestos containing material (ACM)—ch 3
In this chapter:
asbestos containing material (ACM)—see the Work Health and Safety Regulation 2011, dictionary.
48	Section 303 heading
substitute
303	When asbestos and asbestos containing material correctly packed—Act, s 14 (1) (a)
49	Section 303
omit
asbestos product
substitute
asbestos containing material
50	Section 303, new note
insert
Note	This provision applies to both commercial and non-commercial packing of asbestos and asbestos containing material (see Act, s 7 (1A)).
51	Section 304 heading
substitute
304	When asbestos and asbestos containing material correctly labelled—Act, s 14 (2) (a)
52	Section 304
omit
asbestos product
substitute
asbestos containing material
53	Section 304, new note
insert
Note	This provision applies to both commercial and non-commercial labelling of asbestos and asbestos containing material (see Act, s 7 (1A)).
54	Section 305 heading
substitute
305	Asbestos and asbestos containing material are prohibited dangerous substances—Act, s 73, def prohibited dangerous substance
55	Section 305
omit
asbestos products
substitute
asbestos containing material
56	Part 3.2 heading and notes
substitute
Part 3.2	Authorised handling of asbestos and asbestos containing material
Note 1	The non-commercial manufacture of asbestos containing material is prohibited except in certain circumstances (see Act, s 74 (1)).
Note 2	The transport of asbestos and asbestos containing material is regulated by the Dangerous Goods (Road Transport) Act 2009.
57	Sections 306 to 310
substitute
306	Authorised importation of asbestos and asbestos containing material—Act, s 75 (1) (b)
A person is authorised to import asbestos or asbestos containing material if the asbestos or asbestos containing material is imported for non-commercial use in asbestos‑related work.
Note	This provision applies to both commercial and non-commercial importation of asbestos and asbestos containing material (see Act, s 7 (1A)).
307	Authorised supply of asbestos and asbestos containing material—Act, s 76 (1) (b) and (3) (b)
A person is authorised to supply asbestos or asbestos containing material to someone else if the asbestos or asbestos containing material is supplied for non-commercial use in asbestos‑related work.
Note	This provision applies to both commercial and non-commercial supply of asbestos and asbestos containing material (see Act, s 7 (1A)).
308	Authorised possession of asbestos and asbestos containing material—Act, s 77 (1) (b)
	(1)	A person conducting a business or undertaking is authorised to possess asbestos or asbestos containing material, for commercial use, if the possession of the asbestos or asbestos containing material is in accordance with the Work Health and Safety Regulation 2011.
	(2)	A person is authorised to possess asbestos or asbestos containing material, for non-commercial use, if the asbestos or asbestos containing material—
	(a)	is in plant or a vehicle in the person’s possession; and
Note	Plant includes machinery and equipment and a building or other structure (see Act, dict).
	(b)	is fixed in place; and
	(c)	was fixed in place before 31 December 2003; and
	(d)	is fixed in a way that does not cause a risk unless it is disturbed.
	(3)	A person is authorised to possess asbestos if—
	(a)	the asbestos is in its natural form in minimal quantities in another mineral; and
	(b)	the presence of the asbestos is incidental to the purpose of disturbing or extracting the other mineral.
	(4)	However, this section does not authorise a person to possess chrysotile or chrysotile containing material.
	(5)	In this section:
person conducting a business or undertaking—see the Work Health and Safety Act 2011, section 5.
Note	This provision applies to both commercial and non-commercial possession of asbestos and asbestos containing material (see Act, s 7 (1A)).
309	Storage of asbestos and asbestos containing material—Act, s 78 (1) (a)
A person who stores asbestos or an asbestos containing material that has been removed from plant or a vehicle (the waste) must ensure that—
	(a)	the waste is correctly packed and labelled; and
	(b)	the person disposes of the waste as soon as practicable after the person comes into possession of the waste.
Note 1	Plant includes machinery and equipment and a building or other structure (see Act, dict).
Note 2	This provision applies only to non-commercial storage of asbestos and asbestos containing material (see Act, s 7 (1A)).
310	Authorised use of asbestos and asbestos containing material—Act, s 79 (1) (b)
	(1)	A person is authorised to use asbestos or asbestos containing material if the asbestos or asbestos containing material—
	(a)	is in plant or a vehicle used by the person; and
Note	Plant includes machinery and equipment and a building or other structure (see Act, dict).
	(b)	is fixed in place; and
	(c)	was fixed in place before 31 December 2003; and
	(d)	is fixed in a way that does not cause a risk unless it is disturbed.
	(2)	A person is authorised to use asbestos if—
	(a)	the asbestos is in its natural form in minimal quantities in another mineral; and
	(b)	the presence of the asbestos is incidental to the purpose of disturbing or extracting the other mineral.
	(3)	However, this section does not authorise a person to possess chrysotile or chrysotile containing material.
Note	This provision applies only to non-commercial use of asbestos and asbestos containing material (see Act, s 7 (1A)).
58	Asbestos management—non-residential premises
Part 3.4
omit
59	Dictionary, new definitions
insert
ACM—see asbestos containing material.
asbestos containing material (ACM), for chapter 3 (Asbestos and asbestos containing material)—see the Work Health and Safety Regulation 2011, dictionary.
60	Dictionary, definitions of asbestos management plan, asbestos product and asbestos register
omit
61	Dictionary, new definition of asbestos-related work
insert
asbestos-related work—see the Work Health and Safety Regulation 2011, dictionary.
62	Dictionary
omit the definitions of
authorised activity
authorised activity condition
disturb
licensed asbestos assessor
national standards
non-residential premises
63	Dictionary, definition of risk assessment
substitute
risk assessment, for a hazard at premises—see section 222.

Part 8	Work Health and Safety Act 2011
64	Approved codes of practice
Section 274 (2)
after 1st mention of
code of practice
insert
(other than a code of practice in relation to the management, control or removal of asbestos or asbestos containing material)

Endnotes
1	Presentation speech
	Presentation speech made in the Legislative Assembly on 30 October 2014.
2	Notification
	Notified under the Legislation Act on	2014.
3	Republications of amended laws
	For the latest republication of amended laws, see www.legislation.act.gov.au.

© Australian Capital Territory 2014