House of Representatives

Explanatory Memorandum

(Circulated by authority of the Attorney-General, the Hon Christian Porter MP)

General Outline

The main purpose of this Bill is to correct technical errors that have occurred in Acts as a result of drafting and clerical mistakes.

The Bill also contains amendments to:

(a)

update references in Acts from "the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Australia" to "Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand"; and

(b)

make amendments consequential on the Acts and Instruments (Framework Reform) Act 2015; and

(c)

remove references to the Crown in right of Norfolk Island; and

(d)

repeal spent and obsolete provisions and Acts (which will result in the repeal of approximately 572 pages of spent and obsolete provisions).

The amendments also enhance readability, facilitate interpretation and administration, and promote consistency across the Commonwealth statute book. The amendments are minor and technical in nature. The amendments either make no change or only minor changes to the substance of the law.

Financial Impact Statement

This Bill will have no financial impact.