House of Assembly Fifty-Third Parliament, Second Session (53-2) 53 2 Parliament of South Australia House of Assembly published Bills The Uniting Church in Australia (Membership of Trust) Amendment Bill The Uniting Church in Australia (Membership of Trust) Amendment Bill The Uniting Church in Australia (Membership of Trust) Amendment Bill Introduction and First Reading Introduction and First Reading The Hon. J.R. RAU House of Assembly Enfield Deputy Premier Attorney-General Minister for Justice Reform Minister for Planning Minister for Housing and Urban Development Minister for Industrial Relations Minister for Child Protection Reform The Hon. J.R. RAU (Enfield—Deputy Premier, Attorney-General, Minister for Justice Reform, Minister for Planning, Minister for Housing and Urban Development, Minister for Industrial Relations, Minister for Child Protection Reform) (11:14): Obtained leave and introduced a bill for an act to amend the Uniting Church in Australia Act 1977. Read a first time. Second Reading Second Reading The Hon. J.R. RAU House of Assembly Enfield Deputy Premier Attorney-General Minister for Justice Reform Minister for Planning Minister for Housing and Urban Development Minister for Industrial Relations Minister for Child Protection Reform The Hon. J.R. RAU (Enfield—Deputy Premier, Attorney-General, Minister for Justice Reform, Minister for Planning, Minister for Housing and Urban Development, Minister for Industrial Relations, Minister for Child Protection Reform) (11:14): I move: That this bill be now read a second time. This bill amends the Uniting Church in Australia Act 1977 at the request of the Uniting Church to remove the age restriction in section 11(4) on the appointment of members of the Uniting Church in Australia Property Trust (South Australia). I seek leave to have the remainder of the second reading explanation inserted in Hansard without my reading it. Leave granted. The Act facilitated the formation of the Uniting Church via union of the Methodist, Congregational and Presbyterian Churches. It established the Trust and provided for the vesting of property in the Uniting Church. Part III of the Act provides for the constitution of the Trust, to consist of eight members, being persons holding specified positions in the Church and others appointed by the Church. Section 11(4) of the Act states: 'No person who has attained the age of seventy years shall be eligible for appointment as a member of the Trust'. This age restriction is outdated and no longer reflects the values of the Uniting Church or society's expectations regarding age and volunteering. The Bill deletes section 11(4) from the Act. I commend the Bill to Members. Explanation of Clauses Explanation of Clauses Part 1—Preliminary 1—Short title 2—Amendment provisions These clauses are formal. Part 2—Amendment of The Uniting Church in Australia Act 1977 3—Amendment of section 11—Constitution of Trust This clause deletes section 11(4) of the Act which provides that a person who has attained the age of 70 years will not be eligible for appointment as a member of the Trust, and makes a consequential amendment to section 11(3). Debate adjourned on motion of Mr Gardner.