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

Thanks, Senator Pocock. I haven't personally seen the amendment that you've circulated, but I know that has occurred, and I appreciate the sentiments that you were just expressing. I think I can flag now that the government won't be supporting that amendment, because we do believe that it is necessary to move on this legislation. You may not have heard me say earlier that we fully expect there will need to be further legislative steps taken on this matter once we have received the High Court's reasons, and I give you a commitment to work with you—and I'm sure the minister would as well—on concerns that you may have once we see those reasons. But we don't know exactly when the High Court will hand down its decisions. I'd like to think it would be within six months, but it may not be. So we don't support putting in place a sunset clause. But, again, we've said that, once we receive those reasons, we'll need to give this matter some more thought. It's quite possible there'll need to be some further legislative steps taken, and we'd be happy to work with you at that point in time.