Scott Ryan (Victoria, Liberal Party, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Education and Training) Share this | Hansard source

I thank Senator Cameron for a very enlightening history lesson at the beginning of his speech about the history of passports. I think we can all, monarchist or republican alike, be glad that the king no longer controls where we might travel in our own nation. If only that were true of many other nations in the world.

Senator Leyonhjelm gave me notice that he was going to speak this afternoon. I appreciate his contribution in this section of the Senate order of business. I am not in a position to address directly the concerns he raised but, if he wishes, I will be able to get back to him.

The bill has the support indicated on behalf of the opposition. I have always thought that, when it comes to the issue of difficult names or tricky names, we do have laws about that at the state level, Senator Leyonhjelm, both on names and on other things like car and motorcycle numberplates. I think they have their place, personally. I have always thought that the poor person who works in the department of motor vehicles or VicRoads, who has to sit there and try and decipher the latest meaning of six digits and letters and hope it is not offence, has a very difficult job. I will say that there is obviously the principle of having restrictions on that at state and Commonwealth level. I appreciate your disagreement is long established, as is the principle of ministerial discretion involved in the issuing of passports.

I thank senators for their contribution, and I commend the bill to the Senate.

Question agreed to.