Michaelia Cash (WA, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations) Share this | Hansard source

Unfortunately, even the answer would appear to indicate that what the Attorney-General said in the published piece is inconsistent with the bill we actually have before us and the amendment moved by the opposition to add back in or to restore the word 'meaningful' was probably more of a reflection of the Attorney-General's quote.

I will now turn to 'any views expressed by the child'. I want to take you to proposed section 60CC(2)(b). This is the provision that says that, in determining what is in the child's best interest, the court must consider 'any views expressed by the child'. If a parent maliciously coaches a child to say something hurtful or untrue, under this drafting, the court would need to consider that, wouldn't it?