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Hon CHRISTOPHER FINLAYSON (Attorney-General) : This is a very important issue of black-letter law, and I am excited by this legislation. But it would be quite remiss of me, on this red-letter day for the Labour Party, not to express my sympathy to that party for its ongoing problems. I am especially sorry for my good friend Trevor Mallard, who has today lost his special buddy at pump class at Bodyworks on Thorndon Quay, Chris Carter.
 
 
Hon CHRISTOPHER FINLAYSON (Attorney-General) : I move, That the Legislation Bill be now read a first time. At the appropriate time I intend to move that the bill be referred to the Regulations Review Committee for consideration. Today is an exciting day for black-letter law. There are some people who may say this is all dullsville, but I remind them that these days legislation, not case law, is the major source of law in this land. I can say that no better than to quote from a paper I was given today by an Australian called Wainwright, who had prepared a paper for a meeting of senior officials of Commonwealth law ministries. He said: “It’s axiomatic that legislation, both primary and secondary, has assumed ever-increasing importance in Government and in the everyday lives of people over the last 200 years, and continues to do so at what some see as an alarming rate. Even political parties committed to the ideal of small government seem unable to do without it.” I suppose that is us. He continued: “In addition to making laws in response to concerns arising within their respective jurisdictions, legislatures are increasingly under pressure to do so in order to meet expanding international obligations.” So one cannot get away from legislation, and legislation has to be kept up to date and it needs to be accessible, not just for lawyers and parliamentarians but for everyone.