Statutes Amendment (Attorney-General's Portfolio) Bill

Final Stages

The Legislative Council agreed to the bill with the amendment indicated by the following schedule, to which amendment the Legislative Council desires the concurrence of the House of Assembly:

No 1 [McLachlan–1]—Part 7, page 5, lines 1 to 23—Delete Part 7

Consideration in committee.

The Hon. J.R. RAU: I move:

That the Legislative Council's amendment be agreed to.

I will again be very brief in relation to this matter. The situation is that the government, in the interests of getting the balance of the matter through, will not oppose the amendment. However, I would like it recorded that the effect of the amendment of the Legislative Council is to delete the provision which provided for a methodology for appointing an acting chief magistrate, particularly in circumstances where the deputy chief magistrate may be unwilling or unable for a prolonged term to take on that office.

As I indicated here when the matter was before us, that is not the sole purpose of this bill, and so I will be happy to have the balance of it go through. I might at some later time reagitate this matter, but for the sake of getting the balance of the bill through, I accept the amendment and do so on the basis that a problem has been identified which remains by reason of the amendment and it would be useful at some stage to fix that up.

Ms CHAPMAN: I indicate in respect of this bill that I am pleased to have just listened to the Attorney's moment of enlightenment and acceptance of the amendment so that we can pass this bill. In the spirit of his great illuminating period, I will not take that as a threat, just a promise.

Motion carried.