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

Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2004 Week 05 Hansard (Friday, 14 May 2004) . . Page.. 1925 ..

contain these. Part 7 also reflects the objects of the act by providing a timeframe for harmonisation.

Part 8 creates a new document called the Magistrates Court (Civil Jurisdiction) Rules 2004, or the Magistrates Court Rules. That is a transitional measure. Part 8 of the Court Procedures Bill has a number of other functions. It provides that forms approved for use in the Magistrates Court by other specified legislation are taken to be forms approved under the new act. Schedule 1 of the Court Procedures Bill provides the subject, scope and parameters of the rule-making committee’s authority to make rules. The Court Procedures (Consequential Amendments) Bill amends a wide range of laws, including the Court Procedures Bill 2004, to give effect to the policy in the act.

The introduction of these bills represents a significant milestone in the development of our legal system. From the passage of this legislation it will be possible for those responsible for managing the rules of the courts to proceed to develop harmonised rules. The development of the legislation fulfils our obligation to improve the management of civil claims in the courts as the final stage of a package of reforms designed to address issues raised as a result of the indemnity crisis in 2002. Further it will bring benefit to the courts as well as for those of the profession and the public who use the courts by improving access to justice through improved rule-making systems. I commend the bills to the Assembly.

Debate (on motion by Mr Stefaniak) adjourned to the next sitting.

Court Procedures (Consequential Amendments) Bill 2004

Mr Stanhope, pursuant to notice, presented the bill and its explanatory statement.

Title read by Clerk.

MR STANHOPE (Chief Minister, Attorney-General, Minister for Environment and Minister for Community Affairs) (10.55): I move:

That this bill be agreed to in principle.

Mr Speaker, my in principle speech on this bill was incorporated in the speech I made on the previous bill, the Court Procedures Bill 2004.

Debate (on motion by Mr Stefaniak) adjourned to the next sitting.

Crimes Legislation Amendment Bill 2004

Mr Stanhope, pursuant to notice, presented the bill and its explanatory statement.

Title read by Clerk.

MR STANHOPE (Chief Minister, Attorney-General, Minister for Environment and Minister for Community Affairs) (10.56): I move:

That this bill be agreed to in principle.

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