XN000022-1986-07-30 — Page 32

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WEDNESDAY, JULY 30, 1986

+ IT ALSO BARS OUT THE POSSIBILITY OF AN EARLY SETTLEMENT IN RESPECT OF ABILITY, THUS INCURRING ADDITIONAL COSTS, HE ADDED.

MR TA' ALSO NOTED THAT DIFFICULTIES MIGHT ARISE IN CASES OF PERSONAL INJURIES CAUSING DEATH WHEN THE PROBATE MIGHT BE GRANTED TO THE ADMINISTRATOR AFTER A SUBSTANTIAL PERIOD OF TIME, SOMETIMES ONE TO TWO YEARS.

IN THAT CONNECTION, HE SAID THE LEGAL PRACTITIONER WOULD BE FACED WITH THE DIFFICULTY OF OBTAINING THE RELEVANT CRIMINAL RECORD IN TIME FROM THE MAGISTRATE.

+IN SOME CIRCUMSTANCES, BECAUSE OF THE CHANGE IN THE BILL. THE CONVICTION WILL BE SPENT AND IN THE ABSENCE OF ANY EVIDENCE OF THE CONVICTION RECORD, IT MAY BE DIFFICULT FOR THE PLAINTIFF TO PROVE HIS CASE AND INJUSTICE WILL THEREFORE ARISE, HE SAID.

ANTI-CORRUPTION REVIEW PLANNED ON FIRE SERVICES PROCEDURES

****

FOLLOWING PASSAGE OF THE FIRE SERVICES (AMENDMENT) (NO. 3) BILL 1986, PROCEDURES ADOPTED BY FIRE SERVICES DEPARTMENT STAFF WILL BE EXAMINED WITH A VIEW TO REDUCING OPPORTUNITIES FOR CORRUPTION, THE ATTORNEY GENERAL, THE HON JEREMY MATHEWS, SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

WINDING UP DEBATE ON THE BILL, MR MATHEWS SAID THE REVIEW HAD BEEN AGREED BETWEEN THE FIRE SERVICES DEPARTMENT AND THE INDEPENDENT COMMISSION AGAINST CORRUPTION.

MR MATHEWS THANKED MEMBERS FOR THEIR SUPPORT OF THE BILL.

HE SAID THERE WAS CONSTANT LIAISON BETWEEN THE FIRE SERVICES DEPARTMENT AND THE CORRUPTION PREVENTION DIVISION OF THE ICAC. ADDING THAT THERE WAS ALREADY A CONTINUING REVIEW OF ALL ASPECTS OF FIRE PROTECTION WORK THAT MIGHT GIVE RISE TO CORRUPTION OPPORTUNITIES.

ON DIFFICULTIES THAT MIGHT BE CREATED BY THE PROPOSED ORAL COMPLAINT SYSTEM, MR MATHEWS SAID ALTHOUGH IT WOULD BE POSSIBLE FOR THE DIRECTOR OF FIRE SERVICES TO MAKE AN ORAL COMPLAINT TO A COURT FOLLOWING THE CONVICTION OF A PERSON FOR FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH A FIRE HAZARD ABATEMENT NOTICE, IT WOULD BE UP TO THE COURT TO DECIDE WHETHER OR NOT A FIRE HAZARD ORDER WAS APPROPRIATE.

/+NO DOUBT