Christian Porter (Pearce, Liberal Party, Minister for Social Services) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I move:

That this bill be now read a second time.

This bill amends the Registration of Deaths Abroad Act 1984.

The primary purpose of the bill is to correct an anomaly in the Registration of Deaths Abroad Act 1984. The correction will allow the Registrar of Deaths Abroad to register deaths in prescribed circumstances.

Under current arrangements, applicants can remain in a procedural 'limbo' as they negotiate with state or territory registrars to register an overseas death. By permitting the appointment of a federal Registrar of Deaths Abroad, this bill will simplify the registration of deaths abroad.

The bill will provide the Foreign Minister with the flexibility to appoint any state or territory registrar as the Registrar of Deaths Abroad.

The bill will also validate the prior appointment of the ACT Registrar-General as the Registrar of Deaths Abroad and any previous registrations of deaths under the act.

The amendments will allow the Registrar of Deaths Abroad to register deaths that could have been registered under the law of a state or territory, where the state or territory concerned has provided notice that it will not register a death.

In order to ensure that only the Registrar of Deaths Abroad can register deaths under the act, the bill removes any reference to 'registering officers' from the act.

I commend the bill to the House.

Debate adjourned.