Philip Ruddock (Berowra, Liberal Party, Attorney-General) Share this | Hansard source

I move:

That this bill be now read a second time.

Statute law revision bills are simple but important tools to pursue more effective and accessible laws. The process of reviewing, correcting and updating the body of Commonwealth legislation is a function well executed by the Office of Parliamentary Counsel, which prepares these bills. On occasion, scrutiny of the statute book extends beyond the correction of minor errors and the clearing of obsolete bills. This bill, for example, will ensure that our laws are contemporary by removing references to outdated expressions and gender-specific language. I think they are matters that would meet generally with approval and not be a matter of contest.

The timely corrections and repeals effected by statute law revision bills improve the quality and accuracy of Commonwealth legislation and facilitate the publication of consolidated versions of enactments.

The bill has five schedules. Schedule 1 amends minor and technical errors contained in 18 principal acts, such as incorrect spelling, punctuation or numbering. Schedule 2 amends errors contained in 13 amending acts. Many of these errors are misdescribed amendments that either incorrectly describe the text to be amended or specify the wrong location for the insertion of new text.

Schedule 3 repeals a total of 17 obsolete acts. Part 1 proposes to repeal 15 acts that are administered by the Minister for Transport and Regional Services. Part 2 proposes to repeal two acts that are administered by the Minister for Industry, Tourism and Resources. Part 3 proposes to remove references to the acts that are repealed by parts 1 and 2.

Schedule 4 repeals obsolete references to the out-of-date terms ‘official manager’ and ‘official management’. Schedule 5 removes gender-specific language from the Customs Act 1901.

There are various commencement dates for the provisions listed in schedules 1 and 2. The effect of the commencement provisions is that the errors are taken to have been corrected immediately after the error was made. All other provisions commence on royal assent.

While none of the amendments proposed by the schedules will alter the content of the law, the bill will improve the quality and public accessibility of Commonwealth legislation.

I commend the legislation to the Committee, and I present the explanatory memorandum to the bill.

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