Page 4628 - Week 15 - Tuesday, 6 December 1994
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Clause, as amended, agreed to.
Clauses 42 to 48, by leave, taken together, and agreed to.
Clause 49
MR CONNOLLY (Attorney-General and Minister for Health) (10.19): Madam Speaker, I seek leave to move together the two amendments circulated in my name.
Leave granted.
MR CONNOLLY: I move:
Page 24, line 28, omit "a health", substitute "an authorised".
Page 24, line 30, omit "a health", substitute "an authorised".
Madam Speaker, Mrs Grassby earlier tonight thanked the Scrutiny of Bills Committee for their sterling work over the years of this Assembly, and I would like to join her in noted that we had picked up a wrong piece of the definition clause. We had "a health officer" and it should have been "an authorised officer". These things do occur, even with the best laid plans. They seem to be a particular problem in definition clauses. Often what happens is that parliamentary counsel virtually pick up a dictionary form from the computer and place it in the legislation.
Mrs Carnell: We will not even make a comment about that.
MR CONNOLLY: Are you not smart, Mrs Carnell, having a little sly dig at officers of the Parliamentary Counsel's Office? I am saying that these things happen. Despite the amazing hours they put in, and the amazing amount of work they have produced in this place, they are human. Prick them and they will bleed. They do, from time to time, make these minor errors which are picked up by Professor Whalan and the Scrutiny of Bills Committee, for which we thank Professor Whalan and the committee, and for which the Parliamentary Counsel's Office thanks Professor Whalan and the committee. To have a bit of a sly dig at the Government because these things occur annoys me a little because of the amount of work that parliamentary counsel put in. Anyway, that is why we are moving the amendments. It is a minor matter. I have no doubt that the amendments will be supported.
MR MOORE (10.21): Madam Speaker, it is not a question of parliamentary counsel. I think Mr Connolly is feeling a little sensitive to the interjection from Mrs Carnell because of his previous conduct today. The responsibility for the Bill is Mr Connolly's. Unfortunately, like everybody else, he too is human. That is perhaps hard for you to believe, Madam Speaker, but it is the case. Yes, those things do occur, and we are very fortunate to have Professor Whalan go over our legislation, and to have the Scrutiny of Bills Committee to double-check it. I think it is appropriate for us all to join in thanking that committee and Professor Whalan.
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