Nick Xenophon (SA, Independent) Share this | Hansard source

Yes, he is, as are all the people I work with. I am just lucky, I guess. Concerns have been expressed and it is fair to say that the ESOs have concerns about this—and I want to put this in language that is as neutral as possible—and that they are resigned to this going through, as I understand it. I want to put on the record Senator Wright's role in this. It is fair to say that her role has been quite useful in providing some clarity to the situation. Senator Wright undertook a conciliatory role in this to try and get a better outcome—and this is not a criticism of Senator Wright; on the contrary, it is an expression of gratitude for the work that she has done on this. If Senator Wright's role had been allowed to continue to bring in the RSL, Legacy and the Vietnam Veterans Federation, I wonder whether we could have avoided several hours of agonising debate about this particular issue. In fact, if that process had continued it might have brought some real benefit. Schedule 2 has some work to do. I think that is clear from the language of the department in its submission to the Senate inquiry, and I have referred to that repeatedly. My question to the parliamentary secretary, which I hope—and I think the parliamentary secretary hopes—will be my last question to him, unless he wants more, is this : will there be any monitoring of the practical effects of schedule 2 in terms of claims that are being dealt with differently, claims that are being rejected, fewer payments made, and what I think are shorthand ways of the government's concerns about so-called double dipping, although, depending on the circumstances, there may be a dispute as to whether in fact there is double dipping? What reassurance can the parliamentary secretary give that the implementation of schedule 2 is being monitored and reported, apart from, say, the estimates process, where of course we have the opportunity three times a year to scrutinise this? Is there any other mechanism or assurance that the government can provide, other than questions on notice, the estimates process and questions without notice, about how it works?