Page 3198 - Week 09 - Tuesday, 18 August 2009

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The amendment to the Machinery Act is beneficial because, in some circumstances, it would not be practical or even possible to appoint a person as a public servant to perform inspections under the act. There may be too few inspections to be done to justify hiring a full-time public servant specifically for that purpose. This amendment expands the pool of expertise available to conduct inspections under the act. In response to the standing committee’s comment on including conditions of qualifications in the act, I note that the chief executive considers employment qualifications in selecting a person to do any job, including a job of inspecting machinery in the territory.

Finally, the proposed amendment to the Magistrates Court Act is another example of the government’s commitment to the ongoing improvement of the statute book. The part of the act dealing with warrants for witnesses who fail to attend court has been expanded to provide a more clearly defined procedure. The government has worked closely with the courts to ensure a system for ensuring these warrants that is both simple to administer and human rights compliant. I would like to thank the committee for its recognition in the report of the improvements that will come from this particular amendment.

All the amendments in this bill introduce helpful and carefully considered additions to the territory’s laws. The original policy goals behind each of the laws amended in this bill remain unchanged. What these amendments will accomplish is to make the territory’s laws more effective in achieving those original policy goals. Like the selected pieces of legislation I have already discussed, all the amendments in this bill strengthen and improve the administration of justice in the territory. The amendments ensure that the legislation remains responsive to the needs of our community. I commend the bill to the Assembly and thank members for their support.

Question resolved in the affirmative.

Bill agreed to in principle.

Leave granted to dispense with the detail stage.

Bill agreed to.

Statute Law Amendment Bill 2009

Debate resumed from 7 May 2009, on motion by Mr Corbell:

That this bill be agreed to in principle.

MRS DUNNE (Ginninderra) (12.00): The opposition will be supporting this bill. It amends a range of acts and regulations for statute law revision purposes. The substantive elements of the bill are contained in four schedules. Schedule 1 provides for minor, non-controversial amendments initiated by government agencies, and two acts are amended. Schedule 2 provides for structural amendments to the Legislation Act 2001, initiated by the parliamentary counsel’s office. Schedule 3 provides for minor or technical amendments to a range of acts and regulations initiated by the


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