Peter Whish-Wilson (Tasmania, Australian Greens) Share this | Hansard source

I want to add that the Greens will be supporting this amendment. As we said yesterday and last week, we've put similar amendments up to Treasury bills in previous years. It's a really important issue. We've yet to have a statement from the minister as to why this is good public policy. Indeed, the government has been remiss in providing any information as to why this archaic grandfathering arrangement is still in place.

Senator Patrick interjecting—

Great-grandfathering arrangement, as Senator Patrick is now calling it, although I wouldn't say there's much that's great about it. Transparency should be in our genes. It's absolutely critical for us to take legislative and regulatory action against tax evasion. Transparency is critical. There's no reason that this over-20-year-old clause should still exist. This chamber has the opportunity to remove it, and I urge all senators to support the amended bill.

Question agreed to.

Resolution reported; report adopted.