Sale and Supply of Alcohol (Renewal of Licences) Amendment Bill (No 2)

In accordance with discussions of the Business Committee, I seek leave for the order of the day for the first reading of the Sale and Supply of Alcohol (Renewal of Licences) Amendment Bill to be discharged and for the Sale and Supply of Alcohol (Renewal of Licences) Amendment Bill (No 2) to be introduced and set down as members’ order of the day No. 5.

For the information of the House, the bill is in the name of Louisa Wall and it was incorrectly drafted by the Office of the Clerk. The result is that the sole substantive provision in the bill makes reference to a non-existent section of the principal Act. If the bill had not been replaced, then the House would debate a bill that contains a fundamental error, and if it passed first reading it would likely be confusing for the public who wish to make submissions on it. By granting leave, the House will enable the bill to be replaced with one that contains the accurate amendment. I note that the error was made by the Office of the Clerk and not by the member in charge of the bill, whose submitted draft cited the correct sections of the principal Act.

Is there any objection to that course of action being followed? There appears to be none. But before I call on the Clerk to give the bill its introduction, I do want to remind members that when bills are drafted by other people in their names, they are responsible for checking them before putting them in the ballot. It is the sole responsibility of the member, and I think the member concerned is exceptionally lucky that the House has been this generous.