Page 247 - Week 01 - Thursday, 24 February 1994
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(2) On the Committee presenting its report to the Assembly, resumption of debate on the question "That this Bill be agreed to in principle" be set down as an order of the day for the next sitting.
Madam Speaker, members will be aware that this Bill contains a great many revised penalties for offences committed under a range of Acts of the Assembly. It is a fairly complex and far-ranging piece of legislation and it does affect a great many disparate pieces of legislation. It seemed to the committee quite appropriate that the many penalties referred to in that Bill be referred to a more detailed inquiry than might be possible on the floor of the Assembly. There has been some debate already in the pages of the Canberra Times and perhaps elsewhere about the range of those penalties, about whether they are commensurate one with the other, whether they are appropriate, and whether they reflect modern standards of criminal responsibility. The committee felt that it would be a suitable function for the Legal Affairs Committee to consider those matters. My colleagues and I were quite willing to embark on that matter, even though there are a number of other inquiries before the Standing Committee on Legal Affairs at present. I hope to be able to present that report in June of this year. I commend the motion to the Assembly.
MR CONNOLLY (Attorney-General, Minister for Housing and Community Services and Minister for Urban Services) (11.34): Madam Speaker, the Government would have no problems with this. It is precisely the type of Bill that can benefit from an Assembly committee looking at it. It is a massive exercise and review of penalties. It is far better that these matters be resolved in the committee than on the floor of the house.
MR MOORE (11.34): Madam Speaker, I am delighted to have the opportunity to support such a referral. It is exactly the same sort of process that is being used with the Smoke-free Areas (Enclosed Public Places) Bill. It seems to me to be a very sensible and rational way to deal with legislation.
Question resolved in the affirmative.
LEGAL AFFAIRS - STANDING COMMITTEE
Alteration to Reporting Date
MR HUMPHRIES: Madam Speaker, I ask for leave to make a statement to inform the Assembly of a new reporting date for one of its inquiries.
Leave granted.
MR HUMPHRIES: Madam Speaker, I would like to inform the Assembly that the reporting date I indicated to the Assembly on 16 September 1993 when informing it of the committee's inquiry into the Criminal Injuries Compensation (Amendment) Bill 1993 has been altered to 31 March 1994.
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