Mitch Fifield (Victoria, Liberal Party, Manager of Government Business in the Senate) Share this | Hansard source

At the outset, I acknowledge that colleagues in this place can have sincerely-held differences of opinion on matters that are the subject of the human rights legislation. But I do not think there can be any legitimate claim that the issues addressed in this legislation have not had very good ventilation.

The opposition's motion to suspend standing orders is an attempt to re-litigate something that this chamber has already determined—that is, that the Senate committee inquiry would report today and, therefore, that this chamber would be in a position to address this legislation today. I must disagree with the proposition of colleagues opposite that there has been a rush on this legislation. It is important to remember that the human rights committee of the parliament has had an extremely extensive inquiry into all of the issues around the existing legislation and potential modifications to that legislation. It was an exhaustive inquiry and I must commend Mr Goodenough and the committee members for the work that they did there.

In addition to that, we have the Senate committee inquiry, which has reported to this chamber within the last half hour. But that is not the end of scrutiny. We have listed—all colleagues can see on the speakers' list—20 speakers for the second reading debate. There is no attempt by the government—nor, if there were, would it be supported by this chamber—to curtail the opportunity for colleagues to speak in the second reading debate. That will go for as long as it goes and is entirely in the hands of colleagues in this place. I have no doubt that there will also be a good debate in the committee stage. I should point out that there will be a small number of amendments from the government, of a purely technical nature, which are the product of discussions the government has had with Professor Triggs and which seek to satisfy some issues that she had with the initial draft. I provide that by way of context but highlight, again, that we will have a good committee debate. I have no doubt of this.

This has been a model of good process. The human rights committee and their work represented this parliament at its best, in terms of the conduct of their duty. The government is not seeking to curtail debate, in this place, in any way, shape or form on this legislation. I do want to acknowledge something that Senator Wong and the Manager of Opposition Business referred to: that yesterday was a red-letter day for legislating in this place. There were 11 packages addressed—12 bills in total—and I thank all colleagues for their cooperation in that. It would be terrific if that cooperative spirit continued today and for the rest of the week so that we can get on with the business of addressing the human rights legislation.

What we are seeking to do through the legislation—that, I hope, we will be in a position to debate shortly—is to address that balance between appropriate protections for individuals in our society and that fundamental right, and fundamental capacity to exercise that right, of freedom of speech. It is not something that any of us should take lightly.

Let me end where I started: I recognise that there are colleagues of goodwill who reach different conclusions on these matters, but it is time that we moved onto the business of addressing the legislation before this place. I do not believe that the motion to suspend standing orders should be supported.