XN000022-1976-02-11 — Page 9

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WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 1976

AMENDMENTS TO BILLS TO BE MORE READILY AVAILABLE TO PUBLIC

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THE ATTORNEY GENERAL, THE HON. JOHN HOBLEY, SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY THAT CHANGES WOULD BE INTRODUCED IMMEDIATELY TO MAKE PROPOSED COMMITTEE STAGE AMENDMENTS TO BILLS READILY AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC.

HE WAS REPLYING TO THE HON. T.S. LO WHO HAD ASKED WHETHER GOVERNMENT WOULD CONSIDER REVISING THE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS TO PROVIDE FOR THE PUBLICATION OF ANY SUBSTANTIAL AMENDMENTS PROPOSED TO A BILL, THUS ALLOWING AN OPPORTUNITY FOR PUBLIC COMMENT ON THOSE AMENDMENTS BEFORE THE AMENDED BILL WAS PASSED.

+ THE CLERK TO THE COUNCIL WILL MAKE AVAILABLE TO THE GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES COPIES OF ALL NOTICES OF COMMITTEE STAGE AMENDMENTS AND THESE WILL BE DISTRIBUTED TO THE NEWS MEDIA.

+COPIES ARE ALSO AVAILABLE, AND ALWAYS HAVE BEEN AVAILABLE, AT HIS OFFICE FOR ANY INTERESTED MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC,+ HE SAID.

MR. HOBLEY EXPLAINED THAT NOTICE OF PROPOSED COMMITTEE STAGE AMENDMENTS WAS GENERALLY GIVEN FIVE OR SIX DAYS BEFORE THE MEETING OF THE COUNCIL AT WHICH THEY WERE TO BE CONSIDERED, BUT SHORTER NOTICE HAD SOMETIMES TO BE GIVEN.

THE ATTORNEY-GENERAL SAID IT WAS CONSIDERED THAT PROCEDURES IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL FOR DEALING WITH AMENDMENTS TO BILLS OUGHT NOT TO BE CHANGED.

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