Page 2507 - Week 08 - Thursday, 19 August 1993
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It is sensible at this time also to remove isolated traffic infringement penalties from the Traffic Act 1937 and the Motor Traffic (Alcohol and Drugs) Act 1937 and include them in the Motor Traffic Regulations. Offences affected include the compulsory wearing of bicycle helmets, found in the Traffic Act 1937, and the offence relating to blood alcohol levels of between .05 and .08, found in the Motor Traffic (Alcohol and Drugs) Act 1977. The placement of these penalties into regulations will ensure that all traffic infringement notice penalties are put together. These provisions deal also with the auctioning of taxi licences and the limitation on the number of taxi licences that the Registrar of Motor Vehicles can grant. Additionally, the amendment Bill will remove sexist language from the Act, in line with the Government's commitment to the ongoing modernisation of ACT legislation. The Magistrates Court (Amendment) Bill (No. 2) 1993, the Traffic (Amendment) Bill 1993 and the Motor Traffic (Alcohol and Drugs) (Amendment) Bill (No. 2) 1993 are consequential to amendments in the Motor Traffic (Amendment) Bill 1993 [No. 2]. I understand that the Opposition is quite happy with all of this, as Mr De Domenico said. I am quite sure that the Bills will be passed with no trouble at all.
MR CONNOLLY (Attorney-General, Minister for Housing and Community Services and Minister for Urban Services) (11.09), in reply: I thank members for their support. Mr De Domenico is quite right in saying that it is ninety-nine point something per cent right. There is a minor error. When these Bills were circulated, I understand that Mr De Domenico was approached by Aerial Taxis, who pointed out that in paragraph 27B(a) of the Motor Traffic (Amendment) Bill [No. 2] we have a reference to a restricted taxi licence. Restricted taxi licences were repealed some years ago, so there is no point in referring to a restricted taxi licence. While leaving it in the Bill would not lead to any fault, it would be pointless to have a reference to a superseded form of licence, so it is sensible to remove it. Mr De Domenico brought this to my attention and we have had drafted the appropriate amendment, which I have circulated. I note that the Opposition will be supporting it. So, with that minor amendment, we hope that it will be 100 per cent correct legislation.
Question resolved in the affirmative.
Bill agreed to in principle.
Detail Stage
Bill, by leave, taken as a whole
MR CONNOLLY (Attorney-General, Minister for Housing and Community Services and Minister for Urban Services) (11.10): I move:
Page 3, clause 6, line 20, proposed new paragraph 27B(a), omit "or a restricted taxi licence".
I have already explained the reason for the amendment.
Amendment agreed to.
Bill, as a whole, as amended, agreed to.
Bill, as amended, agreed to.
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