Andrew Murray (WA, Australian Democrats) Share this | Hansard source

I neglected to expand on amendment (4). As you will see, amendment (4) admits the definition of ‘place’. It limits the application of this amendment to a place as defined in the act in section 77F and includes an area or part of a building. Further, section 234AA sets out provisions in similar terms as proposed amendments and includes areas which have signs displayed or designated areas in airports for examination of baggage and questioning of people. It is hard to understand why there is a necessity for this extra layer of definition of what a place means for the purpose.

If I can suggest to both the shadow minister and the minister, you need to allow a place to be designated as broadly as possible and not keep amplifying it with additions such as those which I am seeking to omit. Essentially, I am trying to get consistency through both these amendments. If the government wishes to include different types of areas, in my opinion you should rather focus on amending the definition of a place and not have it amplified as you have within the general legislation. Perhaps it is a stylistic difference but I think that it is a better drafting concept that I am trying to put forward.