Explanatory note
This explanatory note relates to this Bill as introduced into Parliament.

Overview of Bill

Currently, the State emblems recognised under the State Arms, Symbols and
Emblems Act 2004 are as follows:

(a) the animal emblem of New South Wales is the platypus,

(b) the bird emblem of New South Wales is the kookaburra,

(c) the floral emblem of New South Wales is the waratah,

(d) the state fish of New South Wales is the blue groper.

The object of this Bill is to amend the State Arms, Symbols and Emblems Act 2004
to recognise the black opal as the gemstone emblem of New South Wales.

Outline of provisions

Clause 1 sets out the name (also called the short title) of the proposed Act.

Clause 2 provides for the commencement of the proposed Act on the date of assent
to the proposed Act.

Clause 3 amends the State Arms, Symbols and Emblems Act 2004 as set out in the
Overview.

Clause 4 provides for the repeal of the proposed Act after all the amendments made
by the proposed Act have commenced. Once the amendments have commenced the
proposed Act will be spent and section 30 of the Interpretation Act 1987 provides
that the repeal of an amending Act does not affect the amendments made by that Act.

Information relating to black opal
Precious opal is usually classified on the basis of the background colour of the stone
and the type of colour pattern. The background for the colour play can be colourless,
milky white, pale to dark grey or black. Black opal is precious opal showing a play
of spectral colours in a dark body colour that is usually black, blue, brown or grey.

The dark colouring may be caused by impurities such as iron oxide. A very dark
background accentuates the flashes of colour. Lightning Ridge is a source of the
world’s major commercial supply of black opal.

Note: If this Bill is not modified, these Explanatory Notes would reflect the Bill as passed in the House. If the Bill has been amended by Committee, these Explanatory Notes may not necessarily reflect the Bill as passed.

 

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