Page 1727 - Week 06 - Tuesday, 6 June 2006
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I am sure ACTPLA will be looking at that recommendation with a fair amount of trepidation. But that is the reality of the law that has been passed. It will be interesting to see whether the government backs its rhetoric on human rights with what it has put in place in the Human Rights Act with the performance of its agencies. I think that is what this recommendation is about, so we will watch closely to see that that happens.
Debate (on motion by Dr Foskey) adjourned to the next sitting.
Temporary Deputy Speaker
Statement by Speaker
MR SPEAKER: Before I call you, Mr Stefaniak, with tongue in cheek I mentioned the departure of Mrs Dunne from the position of Temporary Deputy Speaker. Regrettably, Hansard does not record the tongue in cheek. I would just like to record my appreciation for the way Mrs Dunne carried out her duties when she acted as Temporary Deputy Speaker.
There are important features of the management of this place, because people come and go, dealing with their own portfolio responsibilities. So it is important to have people who perform the role of Temporary Deputy Speaker. I welcome Mrs Burke back and thank Mrs Dunne for her assistance.
Administration and Procedure—Standing Committee
Membership
Motion (by Mr Stefaniak) agreed to:
That Mrs Burke be discharged from the Standing Committee on Administration and Procedure and that Mrs Dunne be appointed in her place.
Legal Profession Bill 2006
Debate resumed from 4 May 2006, on motion by Mr Stanhope:
That this bill be agreed to in principle.
MR STEFANIAK (Ginninderra—Leader of the Opposition) (10.50): This bill has been quite a mammoth undertaking. It deals with ensuring consistency and uniformity in the regulation of the Australian legal profession—no mean feat. Indeed there was a national approach taken and there has been considerable consultation. There were a number of drafts, I understand, some of which were not acceptable to many of the participants. However, after a long and often tortuous road, the bill is now before the Assembly. I am delighted, having had discussions with the government solicitors. Both arms of the profession, the Law Society and the Bar Association, are very keen to see this legislation up and running.
It does a number of things but one of the main areas where I think it will be of considerable benefit is that it rectifies a very real problem. For many years it was very difficult to practise across jurisdictions. Even taking something as simple as the ACT and
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