❓ Hon Tjorn Sibma questions the Attorney General regarding the legislative workload of the Parliamentary Counsel's Office (PCO), including the number of bills being drafted, assistance with statutory instruments, and staffing levels. The Attorney General provides a response outlining the PCO's activities and staffing.
AnsweredQoN 1377Legislative Council
Asked
8 November 2023
Member
Portfolio
parliamentary secretary representing the Attorney General
QuestionView source ↗
ATTORNEY GENERAL — LEGISLATIVE WORKLOAD
1377. Hon TJORN SIBMA to the parliamentary secretary
representing the Attorney General:
I refer to the Attorney General's
advice of 19 September that the Parliamentary Counsel's Office was
drafting 81 bills for the state government.
(1) Have any additional bills been
added to the PCO's to-do list?
(2) To what
degree is the PCO also assisting agencies in the drafting of supplementary
statutory instruments, such as regulations?
(3) What is the present level of PCO
staffing?
1377. Hon TJORN SIBMA to the parliamentary secretary
representing the Attorney General:
I refer to the Attorney General's
advice of 19 September that the Parliamentary Counsel's Office was
drafting 81 bills for the state government.
(1) Have any additional bills been
added to the PCO's to-do list?
(2) To what
degree is the PCO also assisting agencies in the drafting of supplementary
statutory instruments, such as regulations?
(3) What is the present level of PCO
staffing?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the honourable member for
some notice of the question. The following response has been provided by the
Attorney General, which I provide on behalf of the parliamentary secretary. I note
that this response was current as at Tuesday, 10 October 2023.
(1) Yes.
(2) The Parliamentary
Counsel's Office provides
comprehensive legislative drafting and related services to the state
government and its departments and agencies. This includes preparing drafts of
subsidiary legislation for ministers and
government agencies so that the acts they administer can be fully implemented and properly administered.
(3) The PCO
employs 23 drafters. As a result of recent recruitment activities, the PCO has
appointed a further five drafters, who have yet to commence work. Once commenced,
these drafters will increase the PCO's drafting cohort to 28 drafters.
some notice of the question. The following response has been provided by the
Attorney General, which I provide on behalf of the parliamentary secretary. I note
that this response was current as at Tuesday, 10 October 2023.
(1) Yes.
(2) The Parliamentary
Counsel's Office provides
comprehensive legislative drafting and related services to the state
government and its departments and agencies. This includes preparing drafts of
subsidiary legislation for ministers and
government agencies so that the acts they administer can be fully implemented and properly administered.
(3) The PCO
employs 23 drafters. As a result of recent recruitment activities, the PCO has
appointed a further five drafters, who have yet to commence work. Once commenced,
these drafters will increase the PCO's drafting cohort to 28 drafters.
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