Ian Macdonald (Queensland, Liberal Party, Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Northern Australia) Share this | Hansard source

I was responding to an interjection that was unlawfully given by the minister. It was a nasty interjection, I might say. It is not that I take offence at these things, but the pot should not be calling the kettle black. I simply want to put on record that I disagree with most of the red herrings Senator McLucas has raised. If time permitted, we would go through those red herrings one by one and dismiss them. Suffice it to say that the fines that will be incurred stand. They are very substantial penalties. What we are doing is removing a conviction that was an unintended consequence of the legislation previously introduced. I again commend the amendment to the parliament.

Question agreed to.

Bill, as amended, agreed to.

Bill reported with amendments; report adopted.