Bill to defer WA Land Authority Act 1992 sunset clause second read

21/8/97

A Bill to defer the Western Australian Land Authority Act 1992 sunset clause by 12 months was second read in Parliament today.

Lands Minister Doug Shave said the deferral was necessary to allow the Ministerial review currently being undertaken by Mr Gerry Gauntlett to be completed and considered by the Government.

"We need to allow Mr Gauntlett enough time to properly conduct his review of LandCorp. The Government will then need to consider the reports's recommendations and seek industry and community views," Mr Shave said.

"Mr Gauntlett is a well-respected and senior member of the WA land development industry and he is conducting the review on an independent basis.

"Once the recommendations have been fully considered, the Government will need to develop, introduce and seek passage through Parliament of any recommended legislative changes to the Act."

Action to establish the review was taken within a month of Mr Shave being appointed Lands Minister. However, there is an anomaly within the Act which does not allow enough time between the receipt of the recommendations and introduction of any possible legislative changes.

The anomaly is that the sunset clause comes into effect in the middle of the period set down for the review. This prevented the review from starting earlier.

The Act also requires the Minister to table a report on the review in both Houses of Parliament.

Media contact: Anabel Gomez 366 0300 / 9222 9595