Ben Morton (Tangney, Liberal Party, Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister and Cabinet) Share this | Hansard source

I move:

That the amendments be agreed to.

I would like to thank the Senate for their consideration of the Royal Commissions Amendment (Private Sessions) Bill 2019. The private sessions framework made an important contribution to the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse. Subject to passage of this bill, the government proposes to recommend to the Governor-General that private sessions be made available for both the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety and the Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability. The government moved amendments in the Senate so that only royal commissioners may hold private sessions. It is important that individuals who may share highly sensitive and personal information in a private session feel confident in the process.

I would like to acknowledge the bipartisan support that the amendments have received from the opposition. I also note the amendments that were flagged in this place by the member for Mayo that were not proceeded with in the Senate, and I look forward to working with her over the next six months or so to begin consideration of the issues that were flagged.

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