Page 6148 - Week 19 - Tuesday, 17 December 1991
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support at all on the matter. But it was clear and obvious that such problems could occur. One wonders what has happened between that time and now, since we have allowed this problem to exist, without taking what was an obvious step in the first place, which so many members now raise.
MR HUMPHRIES (10.59): Mr Speaker, very briefly, I will make two comments about the Bills. One is that I see that the capacity to cancel a licence flows where even a part of an outstanding amount for traffic infringements remains outstanding. I assume that there is no notion of de minimis here, that if a person has a couple of dollars outstanding the licence could still be cancelled. I hope that there will be a bit of discretion exercised about that. Sometimes these things are overlooked. It would be unfortunate if people were to commit more serious offences, on the basis that they had unwittingly lost their licences.
I also recall, from my time in practice, that there is a serious problem with the lack of reciprocal arrangements between New South Wales and the ACT and between New South Wales and other States. Because people have not been eligible for a licence in the ACT perhaps, or have lost that eligibility, they often arrange to take out a licence in another State by giving their address as another place. I think more needs to be done to deal with that problem. In some sectors, it seems to be a fairly easy way of circumventing the ACT laws. If you have a mate who lives in Queanbeyan or Bungendore, it is sometimes possible to get around that with some ease. So, I would urge the Government to pursue that question. I note that it is referred to in the Minister's presentation speech, and I hope that progress is made on that as soon as possible.
MS MAHER (11.00): Mr Speaker, I support the legislation; but I, too, have concerns with regard to the fact that vehicles are being deregistered without people knowing. When a member of my family, who has a business in the ACT, went to reregister one of her vehicles she found that it had been unregistered for over six months. That vehicle had been driven around by different people, and it was a major concern to her that she was not aware that it had been unregistered and what might have been the consequences if that vehicle had been in an accident. So, I urge the Government to rectify this situation with regard to appropriately notifying people that vehicles are to be deregistered.
MR CONNOLLY (Attorney-General, Minister for Housing and Community Services and Minister for Urban Services) (11.01), in reply: I think I detect general support for the legislation from members, for which I thank them. But a number of members have raised the difficulties caused by a vehicle having its registration cancelled without the owner being aware of it. I do not think there is any way of totally avoiding that problem, although officers of the department are constantly looking at ways of doing things better. Under the previous Administration, in relation to
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