Paul Fletcher (Bradfield, Liberal Party, Minister for Urban Infrastructure) Share this | Hansard source

I rise to sum up in this debate on the Copyright Amendment (Disability Access and Other Measures) Bill 2017. I want to acknowledge the cooperation of the opposition, in particular the acting shadow spokesperson for communications, the member for Isaacs, and indeed the crossbench in facilitating the passage of this legislation—as I am advised, a non-controversial bill.

Let me just take a moment to address a couple of the comments made by the member to Chifley, who focused his observations on one particular feature of the bill before the House this evening—the fact that there was, in the exposure draft of this bill, provisions dealing with a proposed safe harbour regime. Those provisions have been removed from the bill, as it stands before the House this evening. The member for Chifley has accurately identified that that is what has occurred. He has wasted no time in attributing motives to the government's decision to do that. Let me enlighten the House as to why the government has done that. It is perfectly straightforward. We have decided to take the time to conduct additional consultation and further consider feedback from stakeholders on this important issue.

I want to make it very clear that we are not talking about holding a further review or a further inquiry, as the member for Chifley sought to suggest. What we are going to do is further consider feedback from stakeholders on this issue.

Mr Husic interjecting—

This is a complicated issue. The member for Chifley chuckles to himself—

See this speech in context