AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY

REMAND CENTRES ACT 1976
PERIODIC DETENTION ACT 1995

INSTRUMENT OF APPOINTMENT OF OFFICIAL VISITOR 2002

Disallowable Instrument DI 2002 - 31

EXPLANATORY STATEMENT

The Remand Centres Act 1976 (RCA), and Periodic Detention Centre Act 1995, amongst other things, provide for the office and duties of Official Visitors.

The duties of an Official Visitor under these Acts include visiting and inspecting the Belconnen Remand and Periodic Detention Centres, inquiring into complaints by detainees and making recommendations and reports about such complaints as the Official Visitor considers necessary.

Official Visitors are appointed under section 6A of the RCA. Under section 6B of the RCA, an Official Visitor shall be appointed for a period of 3 years.

The position of Official Visitor had previously been appointed on 20 December 2001  to Mr Geoffery Potts.  However, when the Standing Committee on Legal Affairs considered Mr Potts’ appointment in accordance with Statutory Appointments Act 1994, the Speaker of the Assembly had not nominated this Committee as the appropriate standing committee to consider appointments under the Remand Centres Act 1976. 

To ensure the validity of the Official Visitor appointment, Mr Geoffery Potts has been reconsidered by the Standing Committee on Legal Affairs who have now been nominated by the Speaker of the Assembly to consider appointments under the Remand Centres Act 1976.   

The instrument takes effect from date of notification.