Andrew Bartlett (Queensland, Australian Democrats) Share this | Hansard source

I did not hear any good arguments against it. This next amendment is an alternative to a previous Democrat amendment, (15), which was actually opposing a schedule. It seeks to set out some relevant criteria for the exercise of the broad ministerial discretion, including compliance with approved statutory plans and satisfactory representation and effective consultation with constituents. Again, it simply seeks to put in place just a couple of criteria that would go to inform the exercise of the very broad ministerial discretion that will now be in place. As I have just stated, it will also be of assistance to the minister of the day as well as being of assistance to those whom the minister will be making decisions about.