Scott Ryan (Victoria, Liberal Party, Special Minister of State) Share this | Hansard source

As I explained to Senator Xenophon and the Member for Mayo in the discussion we had about this, I will not repeat the statement that was at some length made in the House of Representatives about this. I will simply say that, as was noted by the Member for Mayo, I indicated a willingness to have a discussion about this in about a year or so, after the authority is up and running. But at the moment the bill has specified a certain degree of skills that the authority needs. I am not convinced that we can find any one person to represent the community. I am not a believer that you can pick one person to represent the community like that. But I will say that I know it is moved in good faith and I have committed to having a discussion about that. We are focused on getting this up and running as quickly as possible so that members and senators have it set up under this law by midyear.

The TEMPORARY CHAIR: The question is that amendments (1)-(6) on sheet 8078 be agreed to.

Question negatived.