Page: 19558
Second Reading
Debate resumed from 16 November.
Mr HARTCHER (Gosford) [10.02 a.m.]: I speak on behalf of the Coalition to the Statute Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill (No 2) and indicate that the Coalition does not raise in this Chamber any objections to the passage of the bill. Statute law is a device which, by way of an Act of Parliament, comes before the Parliament each year to clarify incidental and unimportant matters that do not justify the presentation to Parliament of a separate amending bill. The Coalition adheres to the tradition of the smooth passage of statute law legislation on the understanding that the matters are of a trivial or insignificant nature, or they are simply to correct drafting errors or clarify technical matters. On that understanding, the Coalition is not objecting to the passage of the legislation. If, however, it comes to attention in the Legislative Council that the bill does not deal with only inconsequential or minor matters, or matters of a technical or drafting nature but in fact deals with matters of substance, the Coalition reserves its rights in that respect.
Mr DEBUS (Blue Mountains—Attorney General, Minister for the Environment, Minister for Emergency Services, and Minister Assisting the Premier on the Arts), on behalf of Mr Carr [10.03 a.m.], in reply: I acknowledge the position taken by the honourable member for Gosford. I commend the bill to the House.
Motion agreed to.
Bill read a second time and passed through remaining stages.