Briefly, clause 8 prevents anyone from bringing a civil action or other legal proceeding based on a power or duty arising under part 1. In particular, the focus is on clause 15, the suspension of benefits under the bill, or from the free trade agreement itself, or a related agreement, without the consent of the Attorney General.
This is to prevent private lawsuits from being brought against governments or administrative bodies by private parties to enforce what they see to be obligations under the act. There is an exception in subclause 8(2), of course, and that exception is to permit two things. One is to permit investor-state dispute settlement as provided for in the free trade agreement. It also permits proceedings to enforce monetary assessment as provided under the agreement on labour cooperation.