Page 362 - Week 02 - Tuesday, 14 February 2017
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definition of “Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission” which is the name of the new entity created following the merger of the Australian Crime Commission and CrimTrac on 1 July last year.
Schedule 3 contains minor or technical amendments. These are usually initiated by the Parliamentary Counsel’s Office. These amendments include corrections, updating language and so on. These amendments in this bill appear to conform to the intent of the SLAB. They are only minor, technical and non-controversial in nature.
I turn to the late notice amendment. On 7 February, notice of an amendment was received as well as a request to dispense with standing order 182A. The proposed amendment is in response to the case of an adopted person seeking to repeal an adoption order and seeking to formally recognise his relationship with his biological father.
This was unable to be done due to an apparent oversight of drafting resulting in an unintended consequence. This was reported pretty widely, including in the Canberra Times on 9 December last year. On initial consultation, we understand that the government undertook to review the case, consult with the established review on adoption law and to present recommendations.
However, after investigation, the A-G’s office advised that such an investigation was not necessary as it had established that it was, in fact, an error. It was never intended to operate as had transpired. This amendment fixes this error. We support the amendment but note that late notice amendments, unless there is a time imperative, may not receive the opposition’s support in the future.
That said, we support the bill. I thank the stakeholders. We consulted with various stakeholders on this legislation. I again thank the minister’s staff for the briefing, and also my senior adviser, Ian Hagan, who again has done all this and tied it all together.
MR RATTENBURY (Kurrajong) (11.56): The Greens support this bill and the minor and technical amendments it introduces to the ACT’s statute books. Primarily these are minor updates and corrections. I do not believe there is anything problematic in the legislation the attorney has spoken about in introduction. Mr Hanson has made a few comments. I have nothing further to add.
What I can say is that we will also agree with the suspension of standing orders to introduce the minor amendment to correct the issue with the Adoption Act, which was identified by now-Justice Mossop. This error was an unintentional outcome from a previous minor change. It is appropriate now it is identified that it is corrected as soon as possible.
I agree with Mr Hanson that the time frame is not the usual ideal process. But it is important to correct this error and I appreciate the fact that the attorney has briefed people in advance of this. We are comfortable with the change and will be happy to support it today.
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