Statutes (Repeals and Minor Amendments) Bill 2025
Second reading speech
Hon Dan Caddy (North Metropolitan Region—Parliamentary Secretary) (5:27 pm): I move:
That the bill be now read a second time.
This is an omnibus bill to repeal obsolete legislation and make minor amendments across the statute book. The bill assists Parliament in saving time by reducing the number of bills that would be required to address minor amendments and repeals across the statute book. Omnibus bills of this type assist the government in maintaining the integrity of the statute book by ensuring it is up to date.
Since the Legislation Act 2021 became operational, many minor and technical amendments to correct drafting, formatting and typographical errors are addressed by Parliamentary Counsel without the need for legislation. However, repeals and other amendments must be dealt with through the parliamentary process. Omnibus bills of this type are introduced into this house by convention and referred to the Standing Committee on Uniform Legislation and Statutes Review before further consideration by Parliament.
An omnibus bill was considered and passed by the Legislative Council of the 41st Parliament after a report was received from the standing committee. It lapsed upon the prorogation of Parliament. The bill has been edited and amended since it was considered in its previous form due in large part to the application of the Legislation Act 2021 but also because of legislative changes made during the last Parliament.
The bill is in three parts. Part 1 provides for commencement, with the substantive provisions coming into effect the day after the day of royal assent. Part 2 of the bill provides for the repeals of Western Australian acts and imperial enactments. Part 3 of the bill provides for the amendments. The amendments range from inserting missing words to repeals of legislative provisions.
Detailed explanations of each of the amendments are set out in the explanatory memorandum accompanying the bill. During the second reading speech of the Statutes (Repeals and Minor Amendments) Bill 2021 on 6 May 2021, the then shadow Attorney General, Hon Nick Goiran, asked if a comparison of the bill with its predecessor could be done to enable its speedy resolution. I have taken this on board and a basic comparison has been done in tabular format.
Finally, I advise the house that pursuant to standing order 126, this is not a uniform legislation bill as defined in standing order 126(2)(a), as it does not ratify or give effect to an intergovernmental agreement; nor as defined in standing order 126(2)(b), as it is not a bill that introduces a uniform scheme or uniform laws throughout the Commonwealth. I commend the bill to the house and table the explanatory memorandum and the tabular comparison between the bill and the Statutes (Repeals and Minor Amendments) Bill 2021.
(See papers 97 and 98.)
Debate adjourned, pursuant to standing orders.
Referral to committee
Hon Dan Caddy (North Metropolitan Region—Parliamentary Secretary) (5:30 pm) without notice: I move:
That the (Repeals and Minor Amendments) Bill 2025 be discharged and referred to the Standing Committee on Uniform Legislation and Statutes Review for consideration and report.
Question put and passed.
