Jane Prentice (Ryan, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

I thank honourable members of parliament for their contributions to this debate on the Law and Justice Legislation Amendment (Northern Territory Local Court) Bill 2016. As the member for Isaacs noted, it is really non-controversial in its various amendments. Indeed, the restructuring of the Territory's courts and the renaming of various officers does not change the divisions or provisions of the roles. The amendments to various and several of the acts actually preserve the conferral of responsibilities on the judicial officers as they stand currently. The bill also includes transitional arrangements which are technical in nature and, once again, as the honourable member for Isaacs noted, non-controversial. I thank him and his colleagues for their support of the bill.

The government is pleased to facilitate and support the passage of the Law and Justice Legislation Amendment (Northern Territory Local Court) Bill 2016, which ensures the anticipated Northern Territory court reforms are fully supported in the federal sphere. This bill allows Northern Territory Local Court judges to continue to lawfully exercise their current jurisdiction and powers in Commonwealth matters. A range of Commonwealth acts needed to be amended to ensure there were no unintended effects or consequences arising from the Northern Territory reforms.

This bill was prepared in close consultation with the relevant departments which administer legislation amended by the bill, and I thank them for their cooperation and support, as I thank the members of this parliament for their contributions. I commend this bill to the House.

Question agreed to.

Bill read a second time.

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