George Brandis (Queensland, Liberal Party, Shadow Attorney-General) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The purpose of the Statute Law Revision Bill (No. 2) 2010 is to correct technical errors caused by drafting and clerical mistakes and to remove references to specific ministers and departments which would require amendments to legislation following changes to the Administrative Arrangements Order. At present when the names of departments and ministerial titles change or when responsibility for legislation is transferred between ministers and departments, substituted reference orders must be made under sections 19B and 19BA of the Acts Interpretation Act. This then requires relevant legislation to be read in conjunction with the orders. The amendments will replace the specific legislative references with generic ones. This will make Commonwealth legislation easier to use. The bill also makes amendments to ensure consistency of language and to correct technical errors. A number of obsolete acts, contained in schedule 3 of the bill, are repealed. They are principally acts for the payment of state grants for rural adjustment arrangements which are no longer payable, those schemes having expired.

There is also a reference to correct a clerical error in the Water Act. The current word used in the Water Act is ‘meditation’. The amendment substitutes for the word ‘meditation’ the word ‘mediation’, which was the evident intent of the draftsman.

Mitch Fifield (Victoria, Liberal Party, Manager of Opposition Business in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Om.

George Brandis (Queensland, Liberal Party, Shadow Attorney-General) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

What did you say, Senator Fifield?

Mitch Fifield (Victoria, Liberal Party, Manager of Opposition Business in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Om.

George Brandis (Queensland, Liberal Party, Shadow Attorney-General) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The interpretation of the Water Act has of course been the subject of some controversy recently. Until now, I was not aware that a dispute arising under that act could become transcendental—or perhaps that is indeed what has been happening! The government may wish to reconsider that correction; I think the original version had a certain charm. On that note, and after considerable meditation on its merits, I commend the bill to the Senate.

Jan McLucas (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Parliamentary Secretary for Disabilities and Carers) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank Senator Brandis for his contribution to the debate on the bill and commend the bill to the chamber.

Question agreed to.

Bill read a second time.