Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Hansard source

Senator Shoebridge, I think you're wrong. I can say to you that I know when amendments are being considered as a consequence of committee reports, and, of course, we don't always agree. There are different policy propositions. We know, sometimes, the crossbench will move something. We say we don't think that can happen or be dealt with in that way, but it doesn't mean that it shouldn't be ventilated. I would say to the Senate let's make sure that the committee can do its work. Let's make sure Senator Ciccone, who is a very able chair, can finalise his report, and let's consider this legislation in the context of having received that report and what other senators think.

I'm just going to finish on this point. Senator Pocock, if you express a view about a bill—you say you have spoken to the minister. I don't understand that you have flagged with him that your intention is to line up with the Nats to try and knock this off. Maybe you don't have to. We all move motions where we suspend standing orders and we do things, but was that really needed on this one? Was that really needed on this one? Do you think you could have just said to Minister Keogh that 'I'm going to try and get rid of this' or 'I'm really worried about this'? As I said, I'm not across all the policy on this. I remember this legislation. I'm not across some of the controversy about this. Did you really have to do this on this one, or could you have had a conversation in good faith with the minister that said: 'I am really minded to do this. I've got a problem with this legislation. Is there a way through it?' That would have been—and then you could still have moved it after that conversation. I'd encourage you, Senator, to do that and to actually have a chat. If you really are concerned about something, if you really want something to be resolved, perhaps have an opportunity to talk to the minister about it first.

I commend the amendment to the chamber. What I would say to the chamber is that we shouldn't forget history. This committee system has been a really important part of our parliament. It is a really important part of our parliament. It might be the case that legislation committees are chaired by and have majority government members on the committee. It has been for a long time.

Debate interrupted.