Chris Ellison (WA, Liberal Party, Minister for Justice and Customs) Share this | Hansard source

This is an amendment which does not necessarily relate to the others that we have been talking about today. It is not essential that it be dealt with at the same time. In any event, the government has been seeking submissions from key affected stakeholders in recent months, and has not made a decision on the timing of this change. The matter is still under consideration. It is not in any way disadvantageous to this bill or the other provisions if it is not there.

It may be a simple amendment that the Democrats are proposing but it is a complex issue that needs to be carefully considered, and that is what the government is doing. For those reasons the government cannot support the Democrat amendments.