Subordinate Legislation Committee, 11 Mar 2003

Meeting date: Tuesday, March 11, 2003

Official Report 99KB pdf

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Annual Report

We have a couple of other items on the agenda, the first of which is consideration of the annual report, which members received in their papers. The report is a factual account of what we have done, including the number of meetings that we have had, the scrutiny of bills, the way in which we have helped to amend bills and how we have taken into account the way in which people can contribute to the shape and content of legislation through consultation. We have often achieved changes in that regard. We have taken our duty to scrutinise secondary legislation in public fairly seriously, which is important for the working of the Parliament.

Mention is made of the conferences that members have attended. The report refers to the fact that we were invited to attend an Australasian conference on delegated legislation and the scrutiny of bills, which is the important work of the committee, but were unable on that occasion to send a delegate because of the pressure of work in the lead-up to dissolution. Does anyone wish to add to or take things from that?

The plot development was a bit limited. I cannot see the report being a best seller.

No, that is right, but we could put a nice cover on it and it might attract a few people to glance at it. Their lives might be changed when they open the covers—you never know.

Meantime, back in the real world.