Parliament Bill

Members, we now come to Part 11, which is the debate on clauses 238 and 239, “Repeals and revocation”. The question is that Part 11 stand part.

While the officials scurry to find the answer to Dr Webb’s very interesting question, I thought I’d take a call and talk very briefly around the Legislative Council Abolition Act. Despite the fact that we are on Part 11 of a chunky bill, this actually is an important part, because one of the actual objectives of the Parliament Bill is to bring together all of the different bits of legislation that make up the machinery of our constitution, our parliamentary constitution. As I’ve previously said, the Clerk of the House of Representatives Act is now gone, because that information has now been modernised and is included in the Parliament Bill. The Parliamentary Service Act 2000 is now 25 years old—same thing. The Members of Parliament (Remuneration and Services) Act 2013, which has been a much-amended piece of legislation thanks to various Governments’ desires over the years to cut MPs’ pay, has now gone as well, and, of course, the Parliamentary Privilege Act—and I’ve been around long enough to remember the Parliament debating this after the Attorney-General v Leigh decision—is an important piece of legislation, and, of course, that’s now included within this bill as well.

I am someone who likes repealing things. I got into Parliament to try and get rid of some stuff from the statute book and stop the ever-growing and increasing arm of the regulatory State.

Hon Rachel Brooking: And then you replace it. You say you’re going to replace it.

Hon CHRIS BISHOP: Well, no, hang on; that’s very unfair. We’re replacing one, two, three, four, five Acts with one, so from a cost-benefit point of view, that’s a win. Five statutes are now gone from the statute book. They might be replicated in another statute, but let’s—it’s still between friends for now. Anyway, the Legislative Council Abolition Act—people forget we used to have a Legislative Council. It’s just over yonder. It’s a beautiful old debating chamber.

Hon Dr Duncan Webb: Bring back the council.

Hon CHRIS BISHOP: Oh, “Bring back the council.”, says Dr Webb. Here we go. This is Labour’s grand plan to win the next election—an Upper House. It’s coming back. It’s coming back—you heard it here first.

Anyway, with that brief, brief moment—

Cameron Brewer: “Lord Webb”.

Tom Rutherford: Lots of cobwebs up there.

Hon CHRIS BISHOP: “Lord Webb”.

Tom Rutherford: Cobwebs.

CHAIRPERSON (Maureen Pugh): Order!

Hon CHRIS BISHOP: Well, we’re not the United Kingdom, and there’s no desire, in fact, for anyone to bring back the Legislative Council. In fact, it did itself out of a job. They self-defeated. They voted to abolish themselves—the first time any member of Parliament voted to abolish their own job. So good luck to them.

Anyway, I now have the answer to the question on the last part, and I hope the committee will indulge me so I can answer it. The Office of the Clerk is subject to the Privacy Act 1993.

Part 11 agreed to.

The question is, That the Minister’s amendments to Schedule 1 set out on Amendment Paper 362 be agreed to.

Amendments agreed to.

The question is, That Schedule 1 as amended be agreed to.

Schedule 1 as amended agreed to.

The question is, That Schedule 2 be agreed to.

Schedule 2 agreed to.

The question is, That the Minister’s amendments to Schedule 3 set out on Amendment Paper 362 be agreed to.

Amendments agreed to.

The question is, That Schedule 3 as amended be agreed to.

Schedule 3 as amended agreed to.

The question is, That Schedule 4 be agreed to.

Schedule 4 agreed to.

The question is, That Schedule 5 be agreed to.

Schedule 5 agreed to.

The question is, That the Minister’s amendments to Schedule 6 set out on Amendment Paper 362 be agreed to.

Amendments agreed to.

The question is, That Schedule 6 as amended be agreed to.

Schedule 6 as amended agreed to.

The question is, That the Minister’s amendments to Schedule 7 set out on Amendment Paper 362 be agreed to.

Amendments agreed to.

The question is, That Schedule 7 as amended be agreed to.

Schedule 7 as amended agreed to.

The question is, That the Minister’s amendments to Schedule 8 set out on Amendment Paper 362 be agreed to.

Amendments agreed to.

The question is, That Schedule 8 as amended be agreed to.

Schedule 8 as amended agreed to.

Clauses 1 and 2