Subj : Happy dance happy dance
To   : All
From : Rachel L. Akers
Date : Tue Nov 14 2000 12:31 am

Greetings All,

OK I can vouch for the accuracy of these two. Partically 'cause I know the 
author & partically 'cause I've also been fighting for this...

    Rai

                        --------

OK, for starters, I am *NOT* a lawyer. Don't take my word for it, ask
someone from Legal Aid or other such service.

    NB Do not ask a Policeman. They are often underinformed,
       and they are required under many Acts to arrest you on
       suspicion, and you asking about the law on a matter
       would probably make them very suspicious...


http://statements.cabinet.qld.gov.au/cgi-bin/display.pl?secure=false& 
index=9279

Attorney-General and Minister for Justice/The Arts 
  The HON. MATTHEW FOLEY MLA 10 November 2000 
  JUSTICE LEGLISATION AMENDMENTS, WITCHCRAFT NO LONGER AN OFFENCE 


   Attorney-General Matt Foley said Parliament had today
   passed amendments to a number of Statutes, in order
   to correct, repeal or modernise provisions under
   Queensland law that have become confusing, obsolete
   or out-of-date.

   [chomp]

   "The archaic and anachronistic provision in the
   Criminal Code on Witchcraft has been abolished. Such
   a provision has no place in the criminal law in this
   day and age." [Mr. Foley said]

OK, so where do we stand.

In limbo. That is until Assent is given by the Governor.

Then we are no longer criminals.

Be warned, however, that the provisions of the internationally derided
Vagrants Gaming and Other Offences Act (VGO) relating to fortune telling
(for money) are still in force. Be aware that there is some confusion
about the issue of wether money has to change hands to make it an
offense (The VGO is surreal stuff).

Achbishop Peter Hollingworth, of the Anglican Church in Brisbane made
quite a big thing of it all on the news last night. So we can expect the
Fundies to go utterly apeshit...


....Brock.

--- Msged/2 4.00
 * Origin: Elfwhere - The POINTy eared POINT (3:640/531.2379)

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