Question B2 (15 marks)

Answer Question B2 on the basis of the facts for Question B1 as well as the following facts and stated assumptions.

On Tuesday 17 November 2026 you are doing a routine check of recent legislation. You notice that an amendment has been made to the Suburban Rail Loop Act 2021('the 2021 Act') by the Justice Legislation Act 2026 ('the 2026 Act'). The 2026 Act took effect Monday 16 November 2026.

The 2026 Act amended a large number of Victorian Acts regulating statutory boards that have 'meetings'.

In the case of the 2021 Act, the 2026 Act substituted '2' for '3' in s 24(1)(a). That provision now reads:

'The office of a director of the Authority becomes vacant if the director

(a) without the approval of the board, fails to attend 2 consecutive meetings of the board; or'

You go to your manager armed with the amendment made by the 2026 Act. Your manager asks you to answer this question: in the light of the amendment has the office of director to which Jack Crowne was appointed become 'vacant'? In answering this question your manager asks you to assume(regardless of your answer to Question B1) that Jack has missed 2 consecutive meetings of the board without the approval of the board(the September and October 2026 meetings).

In the course of answering the above question advise whether the old law or new law currently applies to Jack, where

• 'old law' refers to the 2021 Act immediately before the 2026 Act took effect; and
• 'new law' refers to the 2021 Act upon the 2026 Act taking effect.