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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1998 Week 4 Hansard (23 June) . . Page.. 798 ..

MR HUMPHRIES (continuing):

Mr Speaker, this is the usual motion which is moved to facilitate the presentation of the Appropriation Bill at 3.00 pm today and then debate on the Bill next Thursday. Recording of proceedings by the media, I understand, will be dealt with by different arrangements this year. Those arrangements have been, or will be, agreed to by you, I understand, Mr Speaker.

MR BERRY (10.33): The Opposition agrees with the motion, Mr Speaker.

Question resolved in the affirmative, with the concurrence of an absolute majority.

Debate resumed from 28 May 1998, on motion by Mr Humphries:

That this Bill be agreed to in principle.

MR STANHOPE (Leader of the Opposition) (10.33): Mr Speaker, the Opposition accepts the sense of the Bill. The legislation tidies up an administrative arrangement in relation to categories of people who may wish to change registration as a result of a change of name by deed poll or a change of gender. To that extent, we accept the sense of the Bill. However, I understand from advice received from the Minister's office that it is not expected that very much new business will be conducted. The legislative amendment will probably cost the Territory more than the revenue we might gain by it. Despite that, we accept that it is a worthwhile piece of housekeeping.

MR HUMPHRIES (Attorney-General, Minister for Justice and Community Safety and Minister Assisting the Treasurer) (10.34), in reply: Mr Speaker, I thank Mr Stanhope for his support for the Bill. It is a mechanical Bill which effectively makes it clear that a fee is to be charged for lodgment of applications to note a change of name in the record of birth and to register a change of sex. As Mr Stanhope notes, these are not exactly booming industries in the ACT, although perhaps further radical social reform can make it that way and we can make more money out of 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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