Thursday, 7 March 2024
Bills
Statute Law Revision Bill 2024
Statute Law Revision Bill 2024
Introduction and first reading
The PRESIDENT (17:38): I have a further message from the Legislative Assembly:
The Legislative Assembly presents for the agreement of the Legislative Council ‘A Bill for an Act to revise the statute law of Victoria.’.
That the bill be now read a first time.
Motion agreed to.
Read first time.
Ingrid STITT: I move, by leave:
That the second reading be taken forthwith.
Motion agreed to.
Statement of compatibility
Ingrid STITT (Western Metropolitan – Minister for Mental Health, Minister for Ageing, Minister for Multicultural Affairs) (17:39): I lay on the table a statement of compatibility with the Charter of Human Rights and Responsibilities Act 2006:
In accordance with section 28 of the Charter of Human Rights and Responsibilities Act 2006 (Charter), I table a Statement of Compatibility for the Statute Law Revision Bill 2024 (Bill).
In my opinion, the Bill, as introduced to the Legislative Council, is compatible with human rights as set out in the Charter. I base my opinion on the reasons outlined in this Statement.
Overview
The Bill makes minor and technical amendments to a number of Acts to correct typographical and grammatical errors and to update references.
In particular, the Bill makes minor and technical amendments to the:
• Building Act 1993, Docklands Act 1991, Eastlink Project Act 2004, Forests Act 1958, Gas Industry Act 2001, Heritage Act 2017, Impounding of Livestock Act 1994, Major Transport Projects Facilitation Act 2009 and Heavy Vehicle National Law Application Act 2013 to correct typographical and grammatical errors;
• Victorian Energy Efficiency Target Act 2007 to repeal the second occurrences of mistakenly duplicated items in tables in sections 56 and 56B;
• Domestic Building Contracts Act 1995 to substitute the words ‘building designer’ for the word ‘draftsperson’ in sections 6(1)(e) and 54(1)(c)(ii), to reflect the change to the definition of ‘building practitioner’ in the Building Act 1993 made by the Building Legislation Amendment Act 2023;
• Safety on Public Land Act 2004 to remove a reference to another provision of that Act which was repealed by the Sustainable Forests (Timber) and Wildlife Amendment Act 2014; and
• Road Safety Act 1986 to update a reference in section 84(2)(ea) to a provision which has been moved by the Transport Legislation (Amendment) Act 2004 and remove definitions of terms which are no longer used either in the Act or in regulations made under the Act.
I consider that the amendments under the Bill do not engage any rights under the Charter.
Hon Jaclyn Symes MP
Attorney-General
Minister for Emergency Services
Second reading
That the bill be now read a second time.
Ordered that second-reading speech be incorporated into Hansard:
The Bill before the House, the Statute Law Revision Bill 2024, is a regular mechanism for reviewing Victoria’s statute books and is required in order to ensure Victorian statutes remain clear, relevant and accurate.
The Bill makes minor and technical amendments to various Acts, including updating references and correcting typographical errors. This serves the broader purpose of ensuring these Acts remain relevant and accessible to the Victorian community.
The Bill:
• corrects typographical errors in various Acts, including the Building Act 1993, Docklands Act 1991, Eastlink Project Act 2004, Forests Act 1958, Gas Industry Act 2001, Heritage Act 2017, Impounding of Livestock Act 1994, Major Transport Projects Facilitation Act 2009 and Heavy Vehicle National Law Application Act 2013;
• repeals mistakenly duplicated items in the tables in sections 56 and 56B of the Victorian Energy Efficiency Target Act 2007;
• updates the Domestic Building Contracts Act 1995 to reflect a change to the definition of ‘building practitioner’ in the Building Act 1993 made by the Building Legislation Amendment Act 2023;
• amends the Safety on Public Land Act 2004 to remove a reference to another provision of that Act which was repealed by the Sustainable Forests (Timber) and Wildlife Amendment Act 2014; and
• makes various updates to the Road Safety Act 1986 (Road Safety Act), including amending a reference in section 84(2)(ea) to a provision which has been moved by the Transport Legislation (Amendment) Act 2004 and repealing definitions of terms which are no longer used either in the Act or in regulations made under the Act.
I commend the Bill to the House.
Evan MULHOLLAND (Northern Metropolitan) (17:39): I move:
That debate be adjourned for one week.
Motion agreed to and debate adjourned for one week.