SPEECH BY THE HON. ATTORNEY GENERAL, MR. MICHAEL THOMAS, CMG, QC IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ON WEDNESDAY 6 NOVEMBER 1985
SIR.
MATRIMONIAL CAUSES (AMENDMENT) BILL 1985
I MOVE THAT THE MATRIMONIAL CAUSES (AMENDMENT) BILL
1985 BE READ THE SECOND TIME.
THE MATRIMONIAL CAUSES RULES DEAL WITH PROCEEDINGS
NOT ONLY UNDER THE MATRIMONIAL CAUSES ORDINANCE BUT ALSO UNDER
THE MATRIMONIAL PROCEEDINGS AND PROPERTY ORDINANCE. IN 1982
THE CHIEF JUSTICE MADE THE MATRIMONIAL CAUSES (AMENDMENT) RULES
1982. THESE RULES WERE STATED TO BE MADE IN EXERCISE OF HIS
POWERS UNDER THE MATRIMONIAL CAUSES ORDINANCE. DOUBT HAS ARISEN
WHETHER THE CHIEF JUSTICE WAS ALSO EXERCISING HIS POWER UNDER
THE MATRIMONIAL PROCEEDINGS AND PROPERTY ORDINANCE.
THE PURPOSE OF THIS MINOR BILL IS TO REMOVE THAT
DOUBT, AND TO DECLARE THAT THE MATRIMONIAL CAUSES (AMENDMENT)
RULES 1982 WERE MADE BY THE CHIEF JUSTICE USING HIS POWERS UNDER
BOTH SECTION 54 OF THE MATRIMONIAL CAUSES ORDINANCE AND SECTION
32 OF THE MATRIMONIAL PROCEEDINGS AND PROPERTY ORDINANCE.
ADJOURNED.
SIR, I MOVE THAT THE DEBATE ON THIS MOTION BE