19Extrinsic material, use of in interpretation

##### 19. Extrinsic material, use of in interpretation (1) Subject to subsection (3), in the interpretation of a provision of a written law, if any material not forming part of the written law is capable of assisting in the ascertainment of the meaning of the provision, consideration may be given to that material — (a) to confirm that the meaning of the provision is the ordinary meaning conveyed by the text of the provision taking into account its context in the written law and the purpose or object underlying the written law; or (b) to determine the meaning of the provision when — (i) the provision is ambiguous or obscure; or (ii) the ordinary meaning conveyed by the text of the provision taking into account its context in the written law and the purpose or object underlying the written law leads to a result that is manifestly absurd or is unreasonable. (2) Without limiting the generality of subsection (1), the material that may be considered in accordance with that subsection in the interpretation of a provision of a written law includes — (a) all matters not forming part of the written law that are set out in an official version of the law under the *Legislation Act 2021*; and (b) any relevant report of a Royal Commission, Law Reform Commission, committee of inquiry or other similar body that was laid before either House of Parliament before the time when the provision was enacted; and (c) any relevant report of a committee of Parliament or of either House of Parliament that was made to Parliament or that House of Parliament before the time when the provision was enacted; and (d) any treaty or other international agreement that is referred to in the written law; and (e) any explanatory memorandum relating to the Bill containing the provision, or any other relevant document, that was laid before, or furnished to the members of, either House of Parliament by a Minister before the time when the provision was enacted; and (f) the speech made to a House of Parliament by a Minister on the occasion of the moving of a motion that the Bill containing the provision be read a second time in that House; and (g) any document (whether or not a document to which a preceding paragraph applies) that is declared by the written law to be a relevant document for the purposes of this section; and (h) any relevant material in any official record of proceedings in either House of Parliament. (3) In determining whether consideration should be given to any material in accordance with subsection (1), or in considering the weight to be given to any such material, regard shall be had, in addition to any other relevant matters, to — (a) the desirability of persons being able to rely on the ordinary meaning conveyed by the text of the provision taking into account its context in the written law and the purpose or object underlying the written law; and (b) the need to avoid prolonging legal or other proceedings without compensating advantage. [Section 19 amended: No. 13 of 2021 s. 50.]