MPs Pass Law In Under An Hour To Fix Mistake

The Summary Proceedings Amendment-Bill (No-2) passed into law in just over half an hour with 94 votes in favour and the Greens abstaining on the third reading

Minister Kate Wilkinson said the bill makes certain that some offences regarding property of a value not exceeding $500 are treated as purely summary offences.

There had been a mistake in a rewrite of the law which meant some offences had been misclassified and had given those accused of these minor offences a right to a jury trial when they were intended to be only heard by judge.

Some of the cases involving the offences heard by a judge since 2008 should have technically been held before a jury and could be challenged on those grounds, Ms Wilkinson said.

The current bill would be retrospective and validate convictions handed down by judges except where appeals had already been lodged.

Parliament then adjourned until November 9
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