Katy Gallagher (ACT, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Public Service) Share this | Hansard source

Once this issue was identified to the government and a decision had been taken, the minister made public that decision and the schedule that has been moved to this bill, which has allowed public scrutiny of it. Senator Thorpe and Senator Allman-Payne have just read into the Hansard a list of people who are concerned about that power, which again would lead me to believe that many people working in this field are aware of it. This happens from time to time in government; you make amendments to bills that are already before the parliament. The government has made a decision that this power is needed. There was legislation before Senate, so it was clearly an opportunity to get this power in place as soon as possible.