Thursday, 28 August 2025

Statute Law Revision Bill 2025

Introduction and first reading

The PRESIDENT (23:18): 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.’

Harriet SHING (Eastern Victoria – Minister for the Suburban Rail Loop, Minister for Housing and Building, Minister for Development Victoria and Precincts) (23:18): I move:

That the bill be now read a first time.

Motion agreed to.

Read first time.

Harriet SHING: I move, by leave:

That the second reading be taken forthwith.

Motion agreed to.

Statement of compatibility

Harriet SHING (Eastern Victoria – Minister for the Suburban Rail Loop, Minister for Housing and Building, Minister for Development Victoria and Precincts) (23:18): 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 2025 (Bill).

In my opinion, the Bill, as introduced in 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.

In particular, the Bill:

• Corrects typographical, grammatical, numbering and section reference errors in the Accident Compensation Act 1985; Administration and Probate Act 1958; Australian Consumer Law and Fair Trading Act 2012; Business Franchise (Petroleum Products) Act 1979; Caulfield Racecourse Reserve Act 2017; Cemeteries and Crematoria Act 2003; Child Employment Act 2003; Corrections Act 1986; Country Fire Authority Act 1958; Court Services Victoria Act 2014; Disability Service Safeguards Act ‍2018; Family Violence Protection Act 2008; Fisheries Act 1995; Health Complaints Act 2016; Mental Health and Wellbeing Act 2022; Serious Offenders Act 2018; Status of Children Act 1974; Surveying Act 2004; Tobacco Act 1987; Transfer of Land Act 1958; Triple Zero Victoria Act 2023; and the Youth Justice Act 2024.

• Updates references to the Administrative Appeals Tribunal Act 1975 (Cth) in a number of Acts, to reflect the fact that it has been repealed and replaced by the Administrative Review Tribunal Act 2024 (Cth) by updating references to the former Act in the Agricultural and Veterinary Chemicals (Victoria) Act 1994; Competition Policy Reform (Victoria) Act 1995; Corporations (Victoria) Act 1990; Federal Courts (State Jurisdiction) Act 1999; Gene Technology Act 2001; Marine (Domestic Commercial Vessel National Law Application) Act 2013; New Tax System Price Exploitation Code (Victoria) Act 1999; Research Involving Human Embryos Act 2008; Sports Anti-doping Act 2005; Therapeutic Goods (Victoria) Act 2010; and the Water Efficiency Labelling and Standards Act 2005.

• Amends a number of Acts to correct references to names of departments that are out of date because of Orders made under the Administrative Arrangements Act 1983.

• Amends the Aboriginal Heritage Act 2006 to correct a reference to that Act being “the specified Act” for the purposes of the Land Acquisition and Compensation Act 1986, as the term defined in the Land Acquisition and Compensation Act 1986 is “the special Act”.

• Amends the Circular Economy (Waste Reduction and Recycling) Act 2021 to replace references to an Alpine Resort Management Board with references to Alpine Resorts Victoria, its successor in law, following the abolition of the Alpine Resort Management Boards by the Alpine Resorts Legislation Amendment Act 2022.

I consider that the amendments under the Bill do not engage any rights under the Charter.

Hon Jaclyn Symes MP

Treasurer

Minister for Industrial Relations

Minister for Regional Development

Second reading

Harriet SHING (Eastern Victoria – Minister for the Suburban Rail Loop, Minister for Housing and Building, Minister for Development Victoria and Precincts) (23:18): I move:

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 2025, 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, grammatical, numbering and section reference errors in the Accident Compensation Act 1985; Administration and Probate Act 1958; Australian Consumer Law and Fair Trading Act 2012; Business Franchise (Petroleum Products) Act 1979; Caulfield Racecourse Reserve Act 2017; Cemeteries and Crematoria Act 2003; Child Employment Act 2003; Corrections Act 1986; Country Fire Authority Act 1958; Court Services Victoria Act 2014; Disability Service Safeguards Act ‍2018; Family Violence Protection Act 2008; Fisheries Act 1995; Health Complaints Act 2016; Mental Health and Wellbeing Act 2022; Serious Offenders Act 2018; Status of Children Act 1974; Surveying Act 2004; Tobacco Act 1987; Transfer of Land Act 1958; Triple Zero Victoria Act 2023; and the Youth Justice Act 2024.

• Updates references to the Administrative Appeals Tribunal Act 1975 (Cth) in a number of Acts, to reflect the fact that it has been repealed and replaced by the Administrative Review Tribunal Act 2024 (Cth), by updating references to the former Act in the Agricultural and Veterinary Chemicals (Victoria) Act 1994; Competition Policy Reform (Victoria) Act 1995; Corporations (Victoria) Act 1990; Federal Courts (State Jurisdiction) Act 1999; Gene Technology Act 2001; Marine (Domestic Commercial Vessel National Law Application) Act 2013; New Tax System Price Exploitation Code (Victoria) Act 1999; Research Involving Human Embryos Act 2008; Sports Anti-doping Act 2005; Therapeutic Goods (Victoria) Act 2010; and the Water Efficiency Labelling and Standards Act 2005.

• Amends a number of Acts to correct references to names of departments that are out of date because of Orders made under the Administrative Arrangements Act 1983.

• Amends the Aboriginal Heritage Act 2006 to correct a reference to that Act being “the specified Act” for the purposes of the Land Acquisition and Compensation Act 1986, as the term defined in the Land Acquisition and Compensation Act 1986 is “the special Act”.

• Amends the Circular Economy (Waste Reduction and Recycling) Act 2021 to replace references to an Alpine Resort Management Board with references to Alpine Resorts Victoria, its successor in law, following the abolition of the Alpine Resort Management Boards by the Alpine Resorts Legislation Amendment Act 2022.

I commend the Bill to the House.

David DAVIS (Southern Metropolitan) (23:18): I move:

That debate on this bill be adjourned for one week.

Motion agreed to and debate adjourned for one week.