Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . .
Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1998 Week 9 Hansard (18 November) . . Page.. 2643 ..
MS TUCKER (continuing):
"Do you know what will happen if you do this? We will have developers, business people, the community, flocking to make frivolous claims". What has happened to the great generous approach to human nature? Of course, it does not suit their argument, and I think it is a nonsense.
Question put:
That this Bill be agreed to in principle.
The Assembly voted -
AYES, 8 NOES, 9 Mr Berry Ms Carnell Mr Corbell Mr Cornwell Mr Hargreaves Mr Hird Mr Moore Mr Humphries Mr Quinlan Mr Kaine Mr Stanhope Mr Osborne Ms Tucker Mr Rugendyke Mr Wood Mr Smyth Mr StefaniakQuestion so resolved in the negative.
Debate resumed from 26 August 1998, on motion by Mr Osborne:
That this Bill be agreed to in principle.
MR HUMPHRIES (Attorney-General, Minister for Justice and Community Safety and Minister Assisting the Treasurer) (4.33): Mr Speaker, I can indicate that the Government will be supporting this Bill. Mr Osborne's Bill provides that there should be a reduction from six years to one year in the period from which a cause of action in defamation might arise to the bringing of an action in the Supreme Court. Given the nature of defamation proceedings and what has been proposed by the Government, or at least what I have proposed with respect to reform of the law in respect of defamation, I think the proposed reduction in time limits is a sensible provision.
Mr Speaker, members will be aware that in recent weeks I have put on the table a proposed package of reforms for the law of defamation. My proposals stem from the failure earlier this year of the Attorneys-General of Australia to agree to any meaningful process of ongoing reform based around the concept of uniform defamation laws.
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . .