Nita Green (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Assistant Minister for Tourism) Share this | Hansard source

As I've said, the direction must be of a general nature only. I think we all have a lot of respect for the Office of Parliamentary Counsel, and the word 'only' is very specific here in this legislation. It ensures that the general direction must only relate to the performance of OPC's functions as outlined in the act. As I've said to you, that means that the direction can only relate to drafting proposed laws, amendments and subordinate legislation, as well as publishing current and proposed laws. A direction of a general nature could not be specific to, for example, a type of technology that might need to be used. What we have sought to do is to ensure that, as I said in a previous answer, the OPC will not be required to comply with the direction to the extent that it relates to the First Parliamentary Counsel's performance and exercise of powers under the acts that they are required to comply with.