Page 425 - Week 02 - Wednesday, 13 May 1992
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reform. But when he spoke of the commitment to the past and attachment to heritage, I thought, "There speaks a true Burkean conservative: One should never change; one should always hold things as they are".
What Mr Humphries says about the mouthful is right. In its current form, this is a very complex law to cite. We are doing two things: Making it easier for persons to refer to this law; and also reflecting the fact that it no longer is the New South Wales Act in its application. It really is an Act that over the years has been moulded to suit the particular needs of this Territory - originally by the Commonwealth pursuant to ordinances under the Seat of Government Act, but more recently by this Assembly. The First Assembly amended this Act on a number of occasions. We had this morning in private members' business a debate initiated by Mr Humphries. The Government will be progressively bringing forward reforms to the criminal law. It no longer is true to speak of this as a New South Wales Act that just applies to the Territory. It is a Territory Act and it should be cited accordingly.
Question resolved in the affirmative.
Bill agreed to in principle.
Leave granted to dispense with the detail stage.
Bill agreed to.
CRIMINAL INJURIES COMPENSATION (AMENDMENT) BILL 1992
Debate resumed from 9 April 1992, on motion by Mr Connolly:
That this Bill be agreed to in principle.
MR HUMPHRIES (4.20): Madam Speaker, this Bill is about clearing up some confusion that occurred following earlier amendments to the Criminal Injuries Compensation Act arising out of the change of nomenclature in the Supreme and Magistrates Courts. The abolition of the title "Clerk", I think, was the one in issue at the time. I could wax lyrical about the romantic attachment to the word "clerk" - it is a very old English word - but I will not. This is a straightforward and necessary piece of legislation, and the Liberals support it.
MR CONNOLLY (Attorney-General, Minister for Housing and Community Services and Minister for Urban Services) (4.21), in reply: That was an eminently sensible and short speech from Mr Humphries which will be responded to shortly by the Government. The Bill does do exactly as he said. It clears up some questions of nomenclature. There was some confusion when we changed the name of the Clerk to "the Registrar".
We had some further confusion today when Ms Szuty's eagle eye compared the amendments circulated with the current print of the Criminal Injuries Compensation Act. She noted that if clause 10(4), as amended, went through as amended it would seem to make no sense. I was most alarmed when I first saw that, because she was indeed right, comparing the amended clause with the print.
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