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{
    "id": 1115338,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1115338/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 19,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Hon. Deputy Speaker",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": "Hon. Members, the second issue also relates to whether the amendments proposed in the Health Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2021 are of a substantive nature requiring the publication of a separate Bill for each affected statute instead of their publication in an omnibus format as presented in the House. The courts and, indeed, myself have had previous occasion to address the question of the nature and scope of omnibus Bills. What is clear is that the courts have left the determination of the form of Bill to the province of Parliament. The courts are also on record as having found difficulties in establishing provisions of a Bill that would constitute miscellaneous vis-à-vis substantive provisions so as to make a determination as to whether such provisions sit well in a stand-alone Bill or an omnibus Bill. Hon. Members, this is not the first time that the House is considering a Bill presented in an omnibus format. As you may be aware, it is the practice of this House to publish and consider Bills, making amendments to various statutes in an omnibus format. Miscellaneous or various amendments to several disparate statutes have been published on an annual basis in a Statute Law (Miscellaneous Amendment) Bill. Where the amendments proposed relate to a defined sector or theme such as finance or health, omnibus Bills such as the Finance Bill or the Tax Laws (Amendment) Bill have been presented to this House. Indeed, and for the record, this House has considered and passed Bills similar in form to the Health Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2021.They include, the Finance Bills, the Tax Laws (Amendment) Bills, 2020, the Land Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2020, the Business Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2019, the Land Value Index Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2018, the Health Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2018, just to mention but a few. As a matter of fact Hon. Members, the Bill under contestation was published in accordance with the practice and procedures of this House and processed in accordance with Standing Orders 114 and 114 (A)."
}