Murray Watt (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry) Share this | Hansard source

ATT (—) (): As I'm sure you're aware, there was extensive discussion between me and the committees, my office and the committees, and my department and the committees. There has been quite a lengthy discussion process. But the reason for pushing on is that recent events have demonstrated that we need much stronger biosecurity powers as a country than those that exist at the moment. I don't want to waste a day in ensuring that I, as the minister, and the department of agriculture have the powers that are necessary to deal with a foot-and-mouth disease outbreak, for example. And that's what this legislation is all about—providing those powers.

I don't think Senator Pocock heard me say earlier that the non-disallowable powers that are being provided by this bill are a very small number of powers confined to the most extreme circumstances. There are other powers in this bill that are disallowable, and that's the way it should be. I don't want to be providing any more non-disallowable powers than are necessary, and that's why we've confined the non-disallowable powers to the very small number that this bill contains.

I am obviously always happy to take questions about this issue, but can we bear in mind that there is some other very important legislation we've got to get to today as well, such as the Anti-Discrimination and Human Rights Legislation Amendment (Respect at Work) Bill 2022, and I know a number of people want to make contributions to that debate.

Question agreed to.

Bill, as amended, agreed to.

Bill reported with amendments; report adopted.