AN AMENDED Act, which proposes compulsory registration of persons and businesses involved in trade for profit, is now awaiting the assent of Governor-General, Professor Kenneth Hall.
The Registration of Business Names Act, which left Parliament's lower house on October 3, was yesterday passed by the Senate without any amendment.
In piloting the bill, Leader of Government Business in the Senate A.J. Nicholson said the act is intended to protect the public in many ways.
The amended act places restriction on advertising by unregistered businesses, and permits the Registrar of Companies to deny registration to businesses which contain undesirable, profane, indecent or obscene word or symbol.
Sanctions
Persons with unregistered businesses that advertise, may be fined up to $20,000 or up to three months jail time for the principals.
The Opposition, while endorsing the bill, argued that it may restrict the "small man". However, Government senators said the bill is geared at protecting the public.
The act, which was first passed in 1918, was last amended in 1934.
