Notaries Public Bill

Second Reading

Adjourned debate on second reading.

(Continued from 18 May 2016.)

Ms CHAPMAN (Bragg—Deputy Leader of the Opposition) (16:27): I rise to indicate that the opposition will be supporting the Notaries Public Bill 2016. It has been about 12 years in the gestation. The former attorney-general did not want to advance it. The current Attorney-General moved at glacial pace in even considering it.

Essentially, this bill codifies a practice in respect of the appointment, dismissal and general regulation of those who practise as notaries public—fine work that some 60 or so in South Australia undertake. It is a formalising of process which had been first presented to me some years ago by John Harley, who was a very strong and consistent advocate for the need to regulate this area of professional practice. We agree with it. More recently, Marcus La Vincente, as president, and Roy Hasda, as a member of the Notaries' Society of South Australia, provided helpful advice in respect of the progress of this bill.

I am disappointed that it is going to cost quite a lot of money to make an application for a notary public to the Supreme Court, which will still require a Supreme Court application with supporting affidavit. The application fee will be well over $2,000, whereas for a general legal practitioner's application it is some hundreds of dollars; nevertheless, that is a minor matter. We consent to the bill.

The Hon. J.R. RAU (Enfield—Deputy Premier, Attorney-General, Minister for Justice Reform, Minister for Planning, Minister for Industrial Relations, Minister for Child Protection Reform, Minister for the Public Sector, Minister for Consumer and Business Services, Minister for the City of Adelaide) (16:28): Thank you very much to the deputy leader. I have to say that I welcome her support. I realise it has taken a time, but I hope John Harley and his band of notaries public appreciate that they have not been forgotten and, albeit slow, progress is being made. I trust, with the opposition's support, they will be equally delighted when the bill passes smoothly through another place.

Bill read a second time.

Third Reading

The Hon. J.R. RAU (Enfield—Deputy Premier, Attorney-General, Minister for Justice Reform, Minister for Planning, Minister for Industrial Relations, Minister for Child Protection Reform, Minister for the Public Sector, Minister for Consumer and Business Services, Minister for the City of Adelaide) (16:29): I move:

That this bill be now read a third time.

Bill read a third time and passed.