COMMERCIAL ARBITRATION BILL

Second Reading

Adjourned debate on second reading.

(Continued from 7 July 2011.)

The Hon. S.G. WADE (17:32): I rise to indicate that the Liberal Party will be supporting the Commercial Arbitration Bill 2011, which was introduced in the House of Assembly by the Attorney-General on 4 May. It updates the Commercial Arbitration and Industrial Referral Act 1986 to reflect amendments in 2006 to the United Nations Commission on International Trade Model Law on International Commercial Arbitration.

In April 2009, the Standing Committee of Attorneys-General noted the model law and that it could form the basis of uniform domestic arbitration law in Australia. In May 2010, the committee agreed to a draft model law. It also includes elements of a commonwealth act. The model bill has already been adopted the New South Wales and Tasmanian parliaments, and this bill is similar.

I note the verbose comments by government and opposition members in the other place in relation to this bill. I do not intend to follow their lead. Having been briefed and undertaken consultation with stakeholders in South Australia and interstate, I am persuaded that this is a well-founded bill. I note that the House of Assembly, having timed speeches, often feels the need to fill the time allocated to them. I am thankful that this house has the freedom to be brief when there is no need to be anything other than brief, so I commend the bill to the house.

Debate adjourned on motion of Hon. I.K. Hunter.