Jane Hume (Victoria, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Employment and Industrial Relations) Share this | Hansard source

Protecting the welfare of young Australians is possibly the most important role we have in this place, and I respect the positions of colleagues across the chamber. I agree with Senator Roberts that we should be looking at the suitability of current Commonwealth guidelines. The coalition supported the Albanese government's decision to task the medical experts at the NHMRC to develop new national clinical practice guidelines for the care of people under 18. We await the public release of its interim advice, due in the middle of this year. However, I oppose the motion for the simple reason that I do not believe that a Senate committee is the appropriate place for the discussion to take place at this time in the absence of that interim advice from the NHMRC. I call on the government to expedite the final guidelines to ensure the welfare of vulnerable Australians. I call for respect for those colleagues who are exercising their conscience, and I am grateful to my party for allowing a conscience vote on this matter.