Mr TRUSS (Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry) (7:05 PM) —I move:

After negotiation in the Senate, the government has decided to accept the amendments proposed by the Senate. These amendments will require the prescribing of organisations established or continued in existence for a public purpose under a Commonwealth law before employees of such organisations can be appointed as quarantine officers. Some concern was expressed in the Senate about a lack of consultation in relation to the selection of organisations. Commonsense dictates, however, that before any employee of another organisation is appointed as a quarantine officer there would be consultation, with an agreement between the organisation and the Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service, to ensure that the employee can be made available for any quarantine functions. The amendments will enable parliamentary scrutiny of the types of organisations that are selected for prescription, while providing the Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service with the flexibility it needs to draw on extra resources when necessary to protect Australia's vast border.

The government has decided to accept the amendments, but I hope that when the regulations proposing those organisations from which AQIS can draw quarantine officers come before the parliament we will not see the union movement hamstringing Australia's quarantine response. It is certainly important that we have the necessary flexibility to enable these officers to be appointed and to ensure that decisions are made in the best interests of the Quarantine and Inspection Service. There is no doubt that the Labor Party's policy on this issue has simply been driven by the union masters, and it is important that there be no compromise on our quarantine just to suit the will and the whims of the various unions. I commend the amendments to the House. It is not the government's preferred course of action, but it will enable the majority of the proposals and the intention of the bill to proceed.

The SPEAKER —The question is that amendments made by the Senate to amendments Nos (6), (7) and (8) made by the House be agreed to.

Question agreed to.