House of Representatives

Second Reading Speech

Mr Hunt (Minister for Industry, Innovation and Science) move:

I move:

That this bill be now read a second time.

The Statute Law Revision (Spring 2016) Bill 2016 continues the work of maintaining and improving the quality of the Commonwealth statute book. The bill corrects technical errors that have occurred in acts as a result of drafting and clerical mistakes, improves and streamlines references to ministers and departments, and repeals obsolete provisions and acts.

Schedules 1 and 2 correct technical errors, remove redundant text, modernise language and fix incorrect references in principal and amending acts. These corrections and updates improve the usability and accuracy of the law.

Schedule 3 amends the Public Lending Right Act 1985 by inserting generic references to ministers and departments. This will reduce the need for substituted reference orders made under sections 19B and 19BA of the Acts Interpretation Act 1901.

Schedules 4 and 5 repeal spent and obsolete provisions and acts, removing redundant material from the statute book. For example, parts 3 and 4 of the International Labour Organisation (Compliance with Conventions) Act 1992 were spent once the amendments that they made to the Migration Act 1958 and the Navigation Act 1912 had been incorporated into those acts. Item 1 of schedule 4 repeals those parts.

These corrections and updates are important to ensure the ongoing accuracy, currency and usability of Commonwealth legislation. For students of legislative drafting, I can think of no higher priority than to examine the way in which this legislation has been prepared. I commend this bill, with great enthusiasm, to the House and the chamber.