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

I don't agree with the assertion made by Senator Thorpe in relation to that. The government has made a decision about the need for this power. We have included it in schedule 5. We would like the Senate to deal with it today.

In terms of the many names that were read into the Hansard, of course the government engages widely across many of those experts that I certainly recognised by name. They are valuable and respected partners, and we take their advice, but, at times, it doesn't mean you agree with everything people say. I hope that some of the commitments we have given in relation to transparency and reporting around it, and engagement on shaping the operational guidance will address some of the concerns people have, including the fact that this has a very, very narrow and very specific purpose, and that there are safeguards built into the legislation.