Subj : Media statement in full..
To   : All
From : Rachel L. Akers
Date : Tue Nov 14 2000 12:31 am

Gidday all,

Having difficulty wiping this silly grin from my face...

  Rai

                        --------


Ministerial Media Statement:
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out-of-date.

These changes include the removal of the term "Stipendiary" from the
title of magistrates, under the Stipendiary Magistrates Act 1991.

They also include an amendment to the Property Law Act 1974, to address
problems identified in a 1999 Queensland Supreme court decision in
circumstances when the Titles Office computerised system is inoperative.

A further amendment to the Acts Interpretation Act 1954 will reflect the
restructuring of Standards Australia. 

Mr. Foley said "Although numerous, these amendments include such
significant legislation as the Acts Interpretation Act 1954, the
Criminal Code, the Property Law Act 1974 and the State Penalties
Enforcement Act 1999."

"Statutes which limit or extend common law rights must be clearly
expressed and unambiguous, and must continue to operate in the manner
intended." Mr. Foley said.

"It is also imperative that Statutes reflect changes in society such as
the electronic storage of Titles Office data." he said.

"For example, the amendment to the Property Law Act 1974 recognises that
in some cases, the only method of search and verification of title may
be via electronic records in the Land Titles Office, and that a vendor
with electronic title only may find it impossible to made good title on
a date for completion due to electronic break down." Mr. Foley said.

"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." 


CONTACT: Kate Maccheroni Collins 323 93614 / 0408 451 833

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

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