Papua and New Guinea Act 1971 (Cth)

Papua and New Guinea

No. 58 of 1971

An Act to increase the Number of Elected Members of the House of Assembly for the Territory of Papua and New Guinea, and to enact certain Consequential Provisions.

[Assented to 25 May 1971]

BE it enacted by the Queen’s Most Excellent Majesty, the Senate, and the House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Australia, as follows:—

Short title and citation.

1.—(1.) This Act may be cited as the Papua and New Guinea Act 1971.

(2.) The Papua and New Guinea Act 1949–1968 is in this Act referred to as the Principal Act.

(3.) The Principal Act, as amended by this Act, may be cited as the Papua and New Guinea Act 1949–1971.

Commencement.

2. This Act shall come into operation on the day on which it receives the Royal Assent.

Composition of House of Assembly.

3. Section 36 of the Principal Act is amended—

(a)by omitting from sub-section (1.) the word “ninety-four” and inserting in its stead the words “one hundred and ten”;

(b) by omitting from paragraph (b)of sub-section (1.) the word “sixty-nine” and inserting in its stead the word “eighty-two”; and

(c) by omitting from paragraph (c) of sub-section (1.) the word “fifteen” and inserting in its stead the word “eighteen”.

Quorum.

4. Section 42 of the Principal Act is amended by omitting from subsection (1.) the word “thirty-two” and inserting in its stead the word “thirty-seven”.

Application of amendments.

5.—(1.) The amendments made by section 3 of this Act apply in relation to the first general election held after the commencement of this Act and in relation to subsequent elections, but do not otherwise affect the constitution of the House of Assembly before the expiration of the day of completion of that first general election.

(2.) The amendment made by the last preceding section applies in relation to the House of Assembly as constituted after the expiration of the day referred to in the last preceding sub-section.

(3.) Expressions used in the last two preceding sub-sections have the same meanings as in the Principal Act and, in particular, the expression “the day of completion”, in relation to a general election, has the same meaning as it has for the purposes of sub-section (4.) of section 36 of that Act.