Page 1259 - Week 05 - Thursday, 25 June 1992
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Finally, it would not be inappropriate, where the Attorney-General of the day consents, for the DPP to appear occasionally in matters not directly related to the DPP's functions - for example, in certain test cases, interstate inquiries and so forth. I would envisage, Madam Speaker, that consent to the DPP engaging in legal practice otherwise than in accordance with his or her functions would be granted only in rare instances where this did not conflict with the responsibilities of the DPP's office. I would add that, as a practice, I would think it appropriate that the Attorney-General of the day consult with the respective opposition spokesperson where such consent was to be granted, in advance of it happening, to avoid potential contention on the matter. I would consider myself bound to adopt that practice and I would expect future governments to do the same. Madam Speaker, I commend the Bill to members of this Assembly and present the explanatory memorandum for the Bill.
Debate (on motion by Mr Humphries) adjourned.
MOTOR TRAFFIC (AMENDMENT) BILL (NO. 2) 1992
MR CONNOLLY (Attorney-General, Minister for Housing and Community Services and Minister for Urban Services) (10.44): Madam Speaker, I present the Motor Traffic (Amendment) Bill (No. 2) 1992.
Title read by Clerk.
MR CONNOLLY: I move:
That this Bill be agreed to in principle.
This Bill amends the Traffic Act to enhance road safety in the Territory in four principal respects. Firstly, it sets out the traffic priorities which apply when a motorist uses a slip lane to turn left at an intersection or junction. Secondly, it provides for the use of evidentiary certificates in court proceedings where a radar speed measuring device has been used to detect a speeding vehicle. Thirdly, it corrects an anomaly in respect of the requirement to provide a suitable child restraint for children between the ages of one and eight. Finally, it bans the use, sale or purchase in the ACT of radar detectors and radar jammers.
Madam Speaker, I would add that this Bill, by dealing with four matters, gives effect to a principle that I have stated previously in this place, and that is that it would be the Government's intention to bring in omnibus Motor Traffic (Amendment) Bills in the autumn and budget sittings, rather than getting to the situation where we are considering the Motor Traffic (Amendment) Bill (No. 6) halfway through the sittings. In prior practices this would probably have comprised four separate Bills. We have adopted the practice of consolidation to bring four related road safety matters before the Assembly in one Bill, although, of course, the Assembly could decide to strike out all or any of these provisions.
The first amendment which the Bill makes to the Act establishes the traffic priorities applying when a motorist makes use of a slip lane to turn left at an intersection or junction. Slip lanes have been developed to enhance traffic flow by enabling left turning traffic to bypass intersections and junctions. The usefulness of slip lanes in avoiding a build-up of traffic at intersections and
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