Page 652 - Week 02 - Thursday, 21 February 1991
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not make more sense? Also, line 16 refers to a fine not exceeding $5,000. I think that is far too high. It should be $2,000. I therefore move:
Page 5, line 16, omit "$5,000", substitute "$2,000".
Also, subclause 5(2)(b) talks about a body corporate and a fine not exceeding $25,000. I think $10,000 would be more than sufficient for the sort of points that we are talking about within the clause.
MR SPEAKER: Mr Stevenson, I do not have a copy of the amendment. I am not sure whether anybody else has.
MR STEVENSON: I am just finishing.
MR COLLAERY (Attorney-General) (5.27): Mr Speaker, there is no amendment to accept. Mr Stevenson has opposed this. The Government stands by the matter currently before it. There is no amendment circulated as far as I know, is there?
Mr Stevenson: It is coming.
MR SPEAKER: I advise members that this is not the correct method of carrying out amendments; but under the circumstances I will allow Mr Stevenson five seconds to complete that amendment. The amendment will be circulated to members. To save time, the amendment reads:
Page 5, line 16, omit "$5,000", substitute "$2,000".
Amendment negatived.
Clause agreed to.
Clause 6
MR STEVENSON (5.30): Clause 6(1)(b) reads, in part:
... is ascertainable at the time of the making of the contract and exceeds $50, ...
I believe that the amount is far too low and should be $200. There are very few purchases these days, of reasonable note, that do not amount to $50. When we are talking about normal door-to-door trading, we are talking about $1,000, or a minimum of $500. It can run into $6,000, $20,000, and so on. I believe that it makes it far too restrictive for far too many businesses to leave it at such a small level as $50. We found that a contract includes verbal contracts. Clause 6(1)(a) refers to a contract which "is not ascertainable at the time of the making of the contract". That would mean, once again, that it could be a verbal contract. If an appointment was booked on the phone, with a company or with, let us say,
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