Judicature (Timeliness) Legislation Amendment Bill

Members, we now come to our final debate, clauses 1 and 2. This is the debate on clauses 1 and 2, “Title” and “Commencement”.

I was waiting for “The question is”, but, anyway, I do have a final question. It’s a reasonably short question—

Grant McCallum: Don’t say it’s your last question!

Dr LAWRENCE XU-NAN: It actually is my last question. It actually, genuinely is my last question. I am deeply appreciative of the committee’s patience these last, I don’t know, like 75-odd hours. Also, more excitingly for this committee, it is also my last amendment. I would like to refer the Minister to my amendment at 8.30.02 p.m. on the commencement date.

Now I’m going to refer to this bill in conjunction with the bill that we just discussed, which is the Legal Services (Distribution of Special Fund) Amendment Bill, because both bills were introduced at the same time and both bills had a commencement date of 1 July 2025. However, I want to check with the Minister on why the updated commencement date for the two has changed, because for the previous one, the commencement date says, “This Act comes into force on the day after Royal assent.” However, for this particular bill, the commencement date says, “This Act comes into force on 1 February 2026.”

I guess for personal sort of consistency, my amendment is to seek the Minister’s guidance on whether there was support on this. It’s just to simply also change the clause 2 amendment, replacing “1 February 2026” with “the day after Royal assent.”, to be consistent with the other bill.

Thank you, Mr Chair. In speaking to the member’s tabled amendment of 8.35.02 p.m., the reason why 1 February 2026 has been inserted is that time is needed to put the operational measures in place to implement the changes.

Just in relation to the title of the bill, I just wonder why we’ve got such a complicated title. If one googles the word “judicature” and pronounces it properly, it refers to the “administration of justice by courts and judges, or, more broadly, the judiciary.” Why don’t we just call it the “Judiciary (Timeliness) Legislation Amendment Bill”? I defy anyone in this House when they saw this bill tonight that did not look at it and say, “What the hell is that all about?”

A bill went through this House some years ago—I think it was my fellow member over this side—the plain English bill. We’re all about getting everything nice and simple, so how about an amendment that, instead of the “Judicature” bill, we call it the “Judiciary” bill, so we will all know exactly what it’s all about?

Judicature—judicature—it sounds so cool. Actually, to the member: I really like hearing you trying to say it.

I move, That debate on this question now close.

Motion agreed to.

Clause 1 agreed to.

The question is that Dr Lawrence Xu-Nan’s tabled amendment to clause 2, replacing “1 February 2026” with “the day after Royal assent”, be agreed to.

Madam Speaker, the committee has considered the Judicature (Timeliness) Legislation Amendment Bill and reports it with amendment. I move, That the report be adopted.

Motion agreed to.

Report adopted.

The Government has indicated that it no longer wishes to continue urgency. The House stands adjourned until Tuesday, 9 December. Good night.

The House adjourned at 9.53 p.m. (Friday)