cleared the Senate.

UBP Senator Noela Haycock, introducing the second reading of the Building Amendment Act 1997, said the bill will bring in one amendment to the 1988 Act.

Sen. Haycock said the act allowed the Minister to bring in new and updated building regulations -- building codes -- and helped matters to be dealt with in a more "timely'' fashion.

But Opposition Senate Leader argued that changing from a affirmative procedure to a negative one would erode Ministerial accountability.

With the affirmative procedure, he said, regulations were tabled and debated in the Legislature. With a negative approach, if the regulations weree not discussed within 21 days and within three sittings, the matter would carry through.