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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2002 Week 12 Hansard (14 November) . . Page.. 3632 ..

MR STANHOPE (continuing):

Schedule 2 contains amendments to the Legislation Act 2001 proposed by the Parliamentary Counsel to ensure the overall structure of the statute book is cohesive and consistent and is developed to reflect best practice. Schedule 3 contains technical amendments proposed by the Parliamentary Counsel to correct minor typographical or clerical errors, improve grammar or syntax, omit redundant provisions, include explanatory notes or otherwise update or improve the form of the legislation.

Schedules 4 and 5 contain repeals of obsolete or unnecessary legislation proposed by government agencies or the Parliamentary Counsel. I have to say in relation to schedule 4, Mr Speaker, that perhaps every Attorney who ponders the law has the same feeling in relation to some of the obsolete or redundant legislation that we do repeal through these acts and would like a fuller debate sometimes. For instance, this bill raises a whole lot of nostalgia in that it repeals the Piracy Act of 1698.

Mr Smyth: You are taking all the fun out of life.

MR STANHOPE: That's right. It makes me feel nostalgic. Why can't we leave the Piracy Act of 1698 or the Piracy Punishment Act of 1902 on the book or, most appropriately for the ACT, the Offences at Sea Act of 1536? One does worry at the implications of removing from the ACT's statute book the Offences at Sea Act of 1536.

Mr Cornwell: Pirates on Lake Burley Griffin, Chief Minister.

MR STANHOPE: Yes, or the Demise of the Crown Acts and the Colonial Courts of Admiralty Act of 1898. There must be a place in the ACT for the Colonial Courts of Admiralty Act of 1898. There is always a tinge of regret around the passage of statute law amendment bills as we tidy up the statute book. As I say, I have a lingering doubt, perhaps not for its practical effect, but that we will regret the passing of the Piracy Act of 1698 from the ACT's laws. Be that as it may.

The bill contains a large number of minor amendments with detailed explanatory notes, and I won't go through each of them. The Parliamentary Counsel is also available to provide any additional explanation or information that members need, if their appetites have now been whetted as to the real reason for the repeal of the Piracy Act.

The bill, while minor and technical in nature, is another important building block in the development of a modernised and accessible ACT statute book that is second to none in Australia.

Mr Speaker, I commend the bill to the Assembly.

Debate (on motion by Mr Stefaniak ) adjourned to the next sitting.

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