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Legislative Council - Fifty-Second Parliament, Second Session (52-2)
2012-05-16 Daily Xml
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SUMMARY OFFENCES (DRUG PARAPHERNALIA) AMENDMENT BILL

Second Reading

Adjourned debate on second reading.

(Continued from 2 May 2012.)

The Hon. G.A. KANDELAARS (17:09): I rise to indicate that the government, at this stage, supports the Summary Offences (Drug Paraphernalia) Amendment Bill 2012. I will keep my remarks brief in relation to this matter except to say that the government appreciates the ongoing work the honourable member has undertaken on this important matter. Indeed, I am advised that the Attorney-General in the other place has met with the Hon. Ms Bressington a number of times regarding this initiative, and the work continues to ensure that new laws improve upon the existing situation.

I appreciate that the honourable member desires to advance this legislation as swiftly as possible, and the government is eager not to impede its passage through this place. I understand that the work is ongoing on this matter and that the Attorney-General may be advised by police or the Crown that certain further amendment of the legislation is required. I can assure the house that consultation with the Hon. Ms Bressington will continue to occur with a view to delivering the best possible outcome. The government at this stage supports this bill.

The Hon. S.G. WADE (17:11): I indicate that the opposition, too, supports the bill. I am not surprised that the government is supporting it. After all, this is really an example of the Hon. Ann Bressington helping the government to fulfil what it sought to achieve in earlier legislation. In June 2008, the parliament passed a government amendment to the Summary Offences Act 1953 to prohibit the sale and supply of drug paraphernalia, particularly in responses to calls for legislative change from the Hon. Ann Bressington.

There were some issues that arose in the case of Police v Koutsoumidis in 2009, and I understand that the Attorney has had constructive discussions with the Hon. Ann Bressington. The Hon. Ann Bressington is proposing this bill, as I understand it, to provide a regulation-making power to make sure that the original intention of the legislation is fulfilled. The government support is not unexpected and is welcome, and we indicate that the opposition will join the government in supporting the Hon. Ann Bressington's bill.

The Hon. A. BRESSINGTON (17:12): I would like to thank the Attorney-General for assisting in the drafting of this bill, for seeing that there was a gap with the last piece of legislation that went through and for working cooperatively with me to make sure that it goes through now. Thank you, everybody.

Bill read a second time.

Committee Stage

Bill taken through committee without amendment.

Third Reading

The Hon. A. BRESSINGTON (17:12): I move:

That this bill be now read a third time.

Bill read a third time and passed.

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