Electricity and Water (Amendment) Act (No 2) 1989 (ACT)

AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY

Electricity and Water (Amendment) Act (No. 2) 1989

No. 13 of 1989

An Act to amend the Electricity and Water Act 1988

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

Short title

1.  This Act may be cited as the Electricity and Water (Amendment) Act (No. 2) 1989.

Principal Act

2.  In this Act, “Principal Act” means the Electricity and Water Act 1988.1

Insertion

3.  After Part VIII of the Principal Act the following Part is inserted:

“PART VIIIA—CHEMICAL TREATMENT OF WATER SUPPLY

Interpretation

“74A.  In this Part—

‘elector of the Territory’ has the same meaning as in the Australian Capital Territory (Self-Government) Act 1988 of the Commonwealth;

‘fluoride’ means—

(a)sodium fluoride; or

(b)any other salt or compound of fluorine.

Probibition on adding certain chemicals

“74B.  A person shall not add a chemical to the water supply system of the Territory.

Penalty:

(a)in the case of a body corporate—$50,000;

(b)in the case of a natural person—$10,000.

Restriction on powers of Authority

“74C.  Section 6 does not extend to empower the Authority to do any act that would contravene section 74B.

Exempt treatments

“74D.  Section 74B does not apply in relation to the addition by the Authority to the water supply system of the Territory of—

(a)a chemical for the purpose of clarifying or purifying the water in that system; or

(b)fluoride in accordance with section 74E;

at a concentration that would not be injurious to public health.

Fluoridation

“74E.  Fluoride may be added to the water supply system of the Territory if the fluoridation of that water supply system is approved by a majority of the electors of the Territory at a referendum.

Referendum

“74F.  (1)  The Minister may arrange for the holding of a referendum for the purpose of section 74E.

“(2)  The referendum shall—

(a)not be held earlier than 6 years after the commencement of this Part; and

(b)be conducted as prescribed.”.

NOTE

1. Ordinance No. 30, 1988 as amended by Nos. 57 and 88, 1988; Nos. 21, 28 and 38, 1989.

[Presentation speech made in Assembly on  23 August 1989]

© Australian Capital Territory 1989