Security Information in Proceedings Legislation Bill

Members, we come now to Part 4, which is the debate on clauses 48 to 150 and Schedules 3 to 9, “Amendments to other legislation”. The question is that Part 4 stand part. I call on Chris Penk.

Thank you, of course you do. I don’t really actually have much to say in Part 4, but I would just point out that the translation service failed us when Paul Goldsmith was speaking before. I couldn’t understand him, so I just wondered if someone could sort that out for the future.

It’s a good point, Madam Chair. I think we do need to understand what Paul Goldsmith’s saying most of the time, and perhaps a translation service might be adequate. My question to the Minister the Hon Kiritapu Allan is: your Supplementary Order Paper 273, Minister, is looking at pulling the legislation into two pieces of legislation, and I’m wondering why that is. It’s an omnibus bill anyway. So could you just explain to us why we’re pulling Part 4 out and the thinking behind that, please?

Thank you, and I think that, on behalf of the member, he, Christopher Penk, acknowledges you for your contribution in this debate tonight.

The bill is an omnibus bill and it amends several Acts to implement one single, broad policy. The break up by the Supplementary Order Paper is required to divide the bill into two parts. So that’s the Security Information in Proceedings Bill and then the Security Information in Proceedings (Repeals and Amendments) Bill. Break-up Supplementary Order Papers aren’t that common, but are used when an omnibus bill involves both a new principal Act and then significant amendments to a number of other Acts, which is the case here. So dividing the bill in this way, essentially, just avoids cluttering up a new Act with a whole ton of amending provisions, and keeping the amending provisions together in a single bill helps users find in one place the amendments for these reforms.

The question is that the Minister’s amendments to Part 4 set out on Supplementary Order Paper 274 and the tabled amendment be agreed to.

Amendments agreed to.

The question is that the Minister’s amendment replacing Schedule 9 set out on Supplementary Order Paper 274 be agreed to.

Amendment agreed to.

Schedule 9 as amended agreed to.

Clauses 1 and 2 Title and Commencement