Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Corporate Governance and Responsibility) Share this | Hansard source

As Senator Siewert identified, I outlined, during the second reading debate, our position in relation to the legislative instrument set of amendments contained in this bill. I understand the concerns, particularly given this government’s form, raised by a number of advocacy organisations, including through the Senate inquiry process. Our view is that many of the concerns to which Senator Siewert refers really deal with the content of instruments that we have not yet seen. It is not possible to assert that there are no review capacities unless you have a look at the content of the legislative instruments. We come at this from the perspective that, as a matter of principle, there is benefit in having these prescriptions included in legislative instruments which are disallowable by the parliament. I accept that the Australian Greens have a different position on that.

I again place on the record that, if the government is returned and if the government proceeds down this path, we will be very closely looking at what is contained in those legislative instruments to ensure that some of the issues that have been raised by the groups which have communicated with us are addressed appropriately.