Deputy Speaker, the ACDP supports this motion. Rule 333 (2) states that, when the Assembly is dissolved, all Bills before the Assembly or any Assembly committee lapse at the end of that day. This is repeated in Rule 351, hence the tabling of this motion. The issue was discussed in the Chief Whips Forum and the Programming Committee, and it was agreed that Bills that have lapsed will, when the Assembly revives them like

today, they will be referred to the relevant portfolio committees for consideration, and this is very important.

We have newly-elected Members of Parliament who must apply themselves to these Bills in terms of section 55 1) of the Constitution. This states categorically the powers of the National Assembly which, when exercising its legislative power may (a) consider, (b) pass, (c) amend or reject any legislation before the National Assembly. So, the Sixth Parliament must then apply section 55 in its entirety and it is not bound by the provisions of the Fifth Parliament.

There are a number of Bills before the House which are contentious and which other speakers have referred to, such as the Road Accident Benefit Scheme Bill, State Liability Bill, the International Crimes Bill and the Hate Speech Bill, to mention a few. Our support of this motion does not mean that we will support those Bills which need due consideration by Members of this Parliament.

Lastly, a number of Private Member's Bills have also been re-introduced. Those where the member that introduced them in the Fifth Parliament has been re-elected and can now re-introduce or continue with that Bill which has lapsed. There are certain circumstances such as the ACDP's Private Member's Bill that was introduced by our member who was not re-elected, i.e the Animal Protection Amendment Bill, and will now have to be introduced de novo with a new process, and that will be done. So, the ACDP supports this motion. I thank you.