Statute Update Bill 2026; Second Reading

French argued that the bill performed necessary legislative maintenance by correcting clerical errors, updating references, and repealing 106 spent acts. The member provided examples of corrections, including punctuation errors in the Australian Centre for Disease Control Act 2025 and updated references to the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia. French stated that these changes improved readability and administration without altering substantive policy or human rights. The member commended the bill for making the law more accessible to the public and easier for agencies to enforce.

McCormack supported the bill, noting that it contained 126 technical amendments and repealed over 100 spent acts. The member addressed concerns regarding veterans' entitlements, stating that the removal of superseded indexation provisions did not alter current benefits. McCormack referenced assurances from the Minister for Veterans' Affairs that no veteran would experience a reduction in payments. The member commended the bill to the chamber, accepting the government's assertion that the amendments were non-contentious and technical.