Police Ordinance 1974
EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM
No. 16 of 1974

		The principal purpose of amending the Police Ordinance 1927-1972 of the Australian Capital Territory is to expressly provide that the Police Arbitral Tribunal may hear and determine appeals against promotions.  Doubts have been expressed whether the Australian Capital Territory Police Arbitral Tribunal has power under the Police Ordinance at present to hear and determine promotion appeals which it has been doing.  The proposed amendment will put the matter beyond doubt.
		The opportunity has also been taken to give the Attorney-General, as the Minister responsible for the administration of the Police Ordinance, a power of delegation under the Ordinance.  The Ordinance vests a number of powers and functions in the Minister but does not contain a power of delegation.  For administrative reasons, it is desirable that the Attorney-General be empowered to delegate some of his powers and functions under the Ordinance.
		A further amendment considered necessary is to alter the reference to ‘the Secretary to the Department of the Interior’ in subsection (2) of section 6 of the Police Ordinance to read ‘the Secretary, Attorney-General’s Department’.
		The Australian Capital Territory Police Association has agreed with the proposed Ordinance.  There is nothing of political controversy contained in it.