Bills

Births, Deaths and Marriages Registration (Change of Name) Amendment Bill

Second Reading

Debate resumed.

Ms WORTLEY (Torrens) (17:45): I rise to make comment on this bill, which fulfils the government's 2014 election commitment by preventing the misuse of our state's naming system in two ways. First, the bill ensures that a person can change their name only if they were born in South Australia or if they have been residing in South Australia for at least a year. For people born in South Australia this has no impact and it does not impose any extra red tape. For people born interstate, this means that if they want to change their name they must do so in the state in which they were born. For people born overseas they must have resided in South Australia for 12 months. This helps to reduce the risk of fraud and the evasion of justice. Appropriate protections have been provided to ensure that a person can still change their name if they are getting married or if they or their children are seeking protection; for example, if they are victims of domestic violence.

Secondly, the bill ensures that prisoners, parolees and other serious offenders are restricted from changing their name without the permission of their supervising authority—and I stress, without the permission of their supervising authority. This ensures that these offenders cannot change their name for fraudulent or other improper purposes. Perhaps more importantly, it prevents offenders from changing their name to one that is designed to offend a victim. Previously the only class of offenders who were prevented from changing their name were child sex offenders.

There have been examples of offenders changing their name to make a direct reference to the crime they have committed or to the victim themselves. There are examples of this in Victoria and New South Wales. I am led to understand that these measures, and the subsequent cooperation between Correctional Services and Births, Deaths and Marriages to implement these measures, will ensure that the welfare of victims is placed first and foremost in this area of the law.

Bill read a second time.

Third Reading

The Hon. Z.L. BETTISON (Ramsay—Minister for Communities and Social Inclusion, Minister for Social Housing, Minister for Multicultural Affairs, Minister for Ageing, Minister for Youth, Minister for Volunteers) (17:48): I thank everyone for their contribution, and move:

That this bill be now read a third time.

Bill read a third time and passed.

At 17:49 the house adjourned until Wednesday 9 September 2015 at 11:00.