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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1996 Week 11 Hansard (24 September) . . Page.. 3287 ..

MR HUMPHRIES (continuing):

I also pick up the point Ms Follett made about mistakes in drafting. Parliamentary counsel, of course, bear the responsibility of making editorial amendments to Acts. I have to indicate that it is possible that from time to time a mistake which is of more than an editorial nature may be made, or rather it is possible that a mistake that is corrected or an updating that is effected may be more than merely editorial and in fact may effect some change in policy. As Ms Follett indicated, the Tenancy Tribunal Act comma gave the Tenancy Tribunal enormous difficultly. It is possible that some change which it is not intended by the Assembly should be made might be effected in that way.

I welcome any scrutiny of this process by, for example, the Scrutiny of Bills Committee or any other members of the Assembly to make sure it operates well. I remain confident, however, that on the vast majority of occasions when this legislation operates it will be to the benefit of the process of getting on the statute books legislation which is relevant, easy to read and up to date. It will very rarely, if ever, occasion a problem for members of the Assembly. If there is such an occasion, of course, it can be remedied quickly with legislation on the floor, and I am confident that that will be the case if ever that occurs. I thank members for their support for this legislation, and I hope that it will greatly help us to focus on the important things in this chamber rather than the mechanical and less important things.

Question resolved in the affirmative.

Bill agreed to in principle.

Leave granted to dispense with the detail stage.

Bill agreed to.

MS FOLLETT: Mr Speaker, I present Report No. 14 of 1996 of the Standing Committee on Scrutiny of Bills and Subordinate Legislation, and I ask for leave to make a brief statement on the report.

Leave granted.

MS FOLLETT: Report No. 14 of 1996, which I have just presented, was circulated when the Assembly was not sitting, on 12 September 1996, pursuant to the resolution of appointment of 9 March 1995. I commend the report to the Assembly.

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