BUILDING (AMENDMENT) BILL 1995

Debate resumed from 4 May 1995, on motion by Mr Humphries:

That this Bill be agreed to in principle.

MR WOOD (4.16): Mr Speaker, I am not going to canvass again the issues that have been raised in this Bill. This is another Bill that has been hanging around for a while and is now proceeding through the Assembly. I make the point that amongst its provisions are those to free up a range of minor building works from building controls - an expansion of what has happened before. That is very appropriate and has our full support. At the same time, I would be confident that building inspectors and others in authority will keep a watch on developments, because sometimes it is remarkable how accidents can happen and injury occur, even in a relatively minor activity like building a barbecue. Again, I am sure that there will be some constant evaluation of how this legislation goes and that, if it is necessary, the Government will change these measures or bring in further measures to simplify the processes.

MR HUMPHRIES (Attorney-General and Minister for the Environment, Land and Planning) (4.17), in reply: Mr Speaker, I might indicate that when I tabled the Bill originally I also tabled an explanatory memorandum. It has been brought to my attention that the explanatory memorandum contains some errors and that in some areas the intention and effect of the amendments could be clearer. I would like to table a corrected explanatory memorandum - I have mentioned it to Mr Wood already - which picks up some of those mostly quite minor errors. In the outline to the explanatory memorandum the words “approvals are required” should have read “approvals are not required”. That was a carefully planned mistake which was spotted, I am sure, by the eagle eyes opposite! A number of structural and textual changes have been made to the document to ensure that it accords with drafting requirements and to avoid possible confusion as to the nature of the amendments. I am sure that members will not underestimate the importance of explanatory memoranda in the process of interpreting what Bills are all about and will agree that any errors should be addressed as quickly as possible. I table that amended explanatory memorandum.

Mr Speaker, I thank Mr Wood for his support for the Bill and trust that the Bill will also be effective in addressing the requirements for a building code that is effective and reactive to the needs of the people who use it.

Question resolved in the affirmative.

Bill agreed to in principle.

Leave granted to dispense with the detail stage.

Bill agreed to.

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