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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1999 Week 3 Hansard (25 March) . . Page.. 834 ..

MR HUMPHRIES (continuing):

that in a way which provides for the court to use the technology and not have to transport those people from the BRC to the courts. It is a development which will save the system as a whole a great deal of time and effort.

The cost of transporting people backwards and forwards between the Remand Centre is quite considerable. I might point out that most of the occasions of travel are really of a very technical or perfunctory nature. There is a requirement, I think it is for every two weeks, to have bail renewed where somebody is in custody. A bail application is considered at least every two weeks; I think that is how it works. Certainly, many of the occasions of a person appearing before the court are simply of a mechanical nature where nothing of great moment happens and that person returns to their cell at the BRC. Being able to deal with those occasions by audiovisual link from a remote location is a very big development, and I hope that it will be used effectively and fairly by our court system.

Mr Stanhope has made reference to the amendments he intends to move. I do not want to comment on those at this stage; I will wait until the detail stage. I thank members for their support for this legislation.

Question resolved in the affirmative.

Bill agreed to in principle.

Detail Stage

Bill, by leave, taken as a whole

MR STANHOPE (Leader of the Opposition) (12.00): I ask for leave to move together the two amendments circulated in my name.

Leave granted.

MR STANHOPE: I move:

Page 3, line 35, clause 4, at the end of proposed new subsection 85AE, add the following subsection:

" '(5) The Mental Health Tribunal may not give a direction under subsection (1) in relation to the appearance before the Tribunal of a person who is the subject of a proceeding under the Mental Health (Treatment and Care) Act 1994 if the person objects to the giving of the direction.".

Page 7, line 18, clause 4, at the end of proposed new subsection 85AQ, add the following subsection:

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