Contempt of Court Bill

We turn now to the debate on Part 3—that’s clauses 28 to 31 and Schedule 2.

Thank you, Madam Chair. I don’t want to take too long but just to, for the sake of the record, point out that this very brief part of the bill deals with the fact that whereas up to now, contempt of court has been part of the inherent jurisdiction of the High Court, to the extent that there are express provisions in this bill that, effectively, asks the inherent jurisdiction of the High Court, but things that are not provided for in this bill but where there are matters that are part of the inherent jurisdiction of the High Court, the inherent jurisdiction remains for those parts that are not part of the bill.

It also provides, in relation to penalties when the High Court is exercising its inherent jurisdiction, that they are set at a maximum in relation to contempt of court to a period of imprisonment of six months. Then there’s simply a tidy-up provision that relates to references in other pieces of legislation to contempt of court, and it is to be dealt with under this legislation. That, therefore, really tidies up the bill and brings the substantive parts to a conclusion.

Thank you, Madam Chair. We support this part.

Part 3 agreed to.

Schedule 1 agreed to.

Schedule 2

The question was put that the amendment set out on Supplementary Order Paper 289 in the name of the Hon Andrew Little to Schedule 2 be agreed to.

Amendment agreed to.

Schedule 2 as amended agreed to.

Clause 1 agreed to.

Clause 2 agreed to.

House resumed.

Bill reported with amendment.

Report adopted.