Natasha Stott Despoja (SA, Australian Democrats) Share this | Hansard source

I understand the fact that they are being treated differently. I can even grapple, in this day and age where technology is changing and advancing all the time, with the technical distinction or rationale for that differential treatment. The thing that I do have a problem with and that I do think is a spurious rationale is the notion that one is more considered than the other. That is certainly an argument that has been put forward. In that respect, regardless of the rationale that is based on technological or other grounds, I think that in this day and age the notion that one is more considered than the other is increasingly spurious.

Having said that, I read the numbers in the chamber and I understand that this amendment will be lost. However, I do think that this is something—and I suspect the minister may even agree with me on this; I am not sure—that will be subject to continual discussion, review and debate, especially as technology advances at this extraordinary pace, because I think that in this day and age the notion that one is more considered than the other is not convincing.