Senate committee reviews private bill standing order changes

The Senate Standing Orders Committee on June 5 reviewed proposed changes to Standing Order 82, focusing on how private bills are handled by special select committees and how objections to those bills should be filed and heard.

The legal team outlined amendments intended to make the rules more consistent. The draft would allow promoters of a private bill to appear before a special select committee in person, by counsel or through another representative, and to present oral, documentary or other evidence supporting the measure.

A new provision was also proposed for cases where promoters fail to attend. Under the wording discussed, the committee could continue considering the bill without them if it sees fit, but would have to record that the promoters were properly notified and did not appear, and include that fact in its report to the Senate.

The committee also reviewed language on objection petitions. A notice for a private bill would have to state the bill's objects and reasons, and explain how any person whose rights or interests may be directly affected can lodge an objection petition with the Clerk. The proposed new order would require such petitions to be written, filed after final publication of the bill in the Gazette and before the first sitting of the special select committee considering it. Petitions would also have to identify the objector, state the nature of the objection and say whether it concerns the whole bill, the preamble or specific clauses.

Members queried several drafting points, including whether the wording being read matched the document before the committee. They were told the document circulated to members should be treated as the working text.

Questions were also raised about a clause stating that no further proceedings should be taken if the committee finds the facts and allegations in a bill have not been proved, unless the Senate makes a special order to the contrary. Members agreed that the issue, particularly its relationship with other standing orders on reports from select committees, should be examined further at the next meeting.

The committee was adjourned to a date to be fixed.