Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . .

Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1999 Week 2 Hansard (10 March) . . Page.. 540 ..

'SCHEDULE Section 5A

FURTHER AMENDMENTS

Section 21 -

Omit 'section 20', substitute 'this Part'.

Paragraphs 22(1)(a) and (b) and (2)(a) -

Omit '20', substitute '20B'.

Subsection 25(1) -

Omit 'section 20', substitute 'Part III'.

Subsection 25(2) -

Omit 'Section 20', substitute 'Part III'.".

Long title, page 12, line 1, omit the title, substitute the following title:

"An Act to amend the Children's Services Act 1986 and for a related purpose ".

Amendments agreed to.

MR OSBORNE (4.32): Mr Speaker, that was a very painful exercise. I would just like to thank the people involved in resolving this issue. I know that Mr Humphries intends to speak, and I do not want to drag the fight on any longer. Quite clearly, there was an oversight in relation to this Bill. I, for one, do not agree with the hype that was generated by the Government. However, all the problems have been resolved in relation to the Bill. The disappointing thing for me was that I felt that this was a very positive piece of legislation, one for which a number of people in the community involved in the area had been looking for a number of years.

I was disappointed that the primary issue - the passing of this Bill and the setting up of a specialist Children's Court magistrate - was somewhat clouded over by the antics of some people. However, I accept that we needed to fix the problem. I am unsure, even at this stage, where the actual problem lay. I think it was in the original Bill and that it was missed at a number of stages. However, I believe that the situation has been resolved. I believe that the department, the Parliamentary Counsel, my office and Mr Humphries' office - those of us in favour of the legislation - are pleased with the outcome, although I do not know whether the Government is.

Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . .