Statute Law Amendment (References to the Sovereign) Bill 2023
Introduction and first reading
Danny PEARSON (Essendon – Minister for Government Services, Assistant Treasurer, Minister for WorkSafe and the TAC, Minister for Consumer Affairs) (12:05): I move:
That I introduce a bill for an act to amend the Interpretation of Legislation Act 1984 in relation to references to the sovereign, to amend the statute law of Victoria to revise language referring to the Queen and Her Majesty as a consequence of the death of Queen Elizabeth II and for other purposes.
Motion agreed to.
Jess WILSON (Kew) (12:05): I ask the minister for a brief explanation of the bill.
Danny PEARSON (Essendon – Minister for Government Services, Assistant Treasurer, Minister for WorkSafe and the TAC, Minister for Consumer Affairs) (12:05): The bill seeks to amend the statute book to correct references from ‘Her Majesty’ to ‘His Majesty’ or similar terms. While the Interpretation of Legislation Act 1984 provides that those references should be interpreted as the successor, the actual wording in each act is incorrect. It is not intended to change the effect of the laws and how they are currently interpreted and applied. The bill also seeks to amend the ILA to clarify the operation of certain provisions and further future-proof legislation for demises or successions of the sovereign. The chief parliamentary counsel is intending to write to the Scrutiny of Acts and Regulations Committee to confirm, as per ordinary practice, which amendments aside from the ILA changes are only of a statute law nature.
Read first time.
Ordered to be read second time tomorrow.