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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1998 Week 8 Hansard (27 October) . . Page.. 2242 ..

MR HUMPHRIES (continuing):

be given in that way to protect the witnesses from embarrassment, distress or intimidation by the courtroom atmosphere or for any other proper reason. The South Australian provisions appear to provide a more cogent and logical basis for permitting the use of CCTV by a range of witnesses than the ACT's provisions provide in respect of the classes of witnesses to which our Act applies.

While I am satisfied that it is appropriate to quickly restore the operation of the provisions of the Act which will assist complainants in sexual assault matters, in the longer term I have asked that the Law Reform Commission consider whether the Act should be amended to provide a clearer understanding of the basis upon which evidence may be given by way of CCTV. I commend the Bill to the Assembly.

Debate (on motion by Mr Stanhope) adjourned.

JUSTICE AND COMMUNITY SAFETY - STANDING COMMITTEE

Scrutiny Report No. 9 of 1998 and Statements

MR OSBORNE: Mr Speaker, I present Scrutiny Report No. 9 of 1998 of the Standing Committee on Justice and Community Safety performing the duties of a scrutiny of Bills and subordinate legislation committee. I ask for leave to make a brief statement on the report.

Leave granted.

MR OSBORNE: Scrutiny Report No. 9 of 1998 contains the committee's comments on 11 Bills, 40 pieces of subordinate legislation and eight government responses. I commend the report to the Assembly.

MR STANHOPE: I seek leave to make a short statement on the scrutiny of Bills report.

Leave granted.

MR STANHOPE: I just want to make the point, Mr Speaker, that I have some concerns about the timing of the tabling of the scrutiny of Bills report in the context of some of the legislation that is listed for debate today. In my efforts to brief myself on a couple of the Bills that we are dealing with today - notably, the Domestic Violence (Amendment) Bill and the Health (Amendment) Bill - my office actually discussed with both the Attorneys office and the Minister for Health's office certain aspects of the legislation. The scrutiny of Bills report has just now been tabled. I understand - - -

Mr Humphries: But it was available to look at.

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