Senator HARRADINE(5.55 p.m.) —This amendment goes to proposed section 61 on page 66 of the legislation. It seeks to delete proclamations. The amendment states:

(3)   Clause 61, page 66 (lines 10 and 11), omit paragraph (a).

I wanted to ask the minister to explain why the government has chosen to include paragraph (a) in this particular section. The bill states:

(8)   This section does not apply in relation to the following instruments or provisions of the following instruments:

(a)   a Proclamation that provides solely for the commencement of an Act or of a provision of an Act;

I wondered why the government has chosen to put that in this bill. I know it has been generally the understanding that the government, in effect, decides when proclamations are to commence for any act. Very often, of course, in the legislation there is provision for a particular time or date for the proclamation of the legislation. No doubt the minister will be able to explain to the committee why the government has included that in this particular provision.