Senator SCHACHT(4.20 p.m.) —These are my amendments that we are voting on. I have said three times in three different contributions that—and in the conversation I just had with Senator Harra dine, privately—I agree with that undertaking we got from the minister. Now, it looks like the—

Senator Harradine —Thanks for the suggestion.

Senator SCHACHT —That is certainly the way to go. It is certainly going to improve the method. I can accept that our amendment looks like it is going to be defeated—though I still will call a division. I agree with the minister. This is, I think, the most significant issue in this deregulatory package as far as the average Australian outside metropolitan Sydney and Melbourne is concerned. We will still call a division.

I am not going to be critical of the government, and the fact that they have not been able to have the detail that the minister read out a while ago available for consideration, because a lot of this stuff has only emerged as other amendments have been prepared by various parties, including the opposition. I think that, as Senator Harradine has said, first time round, if there is not an exposure draft put out about this disallowable instrument—although Senator Harradine has said that you can have an amendable instrument, I am sure that that is a pretty restricted arrangement—that is going to be necessary for a range of not only the carriers' interests but also the consumers' interests and those of regional Australia.

I would imagine, Minister, that, even after that exposure draft is put out, there may well be a debate about that instrument in itself in the parliament. I think it ought to be on the record that, though we might not necessarily formally disallow it, we want people to be able to express and comment about the process. We cannot do it here, because it is not in front of us. I still believe strongly that the amendment I have moved will provide lower prices for more rural and regional Australians than the proposal from the minister. I commend the opposition's amendment to the Senate.

A division having been called and the bells having been rung—

Senator Kernot —Mr Chairman, I wish to raise a point of order. Under standing order 99(1) or (2), I ask you to indicate whether you intend to vote and, if so, how.

The CHAIRMAN —I have already indicated to the tellers that I am voting no.

   Question put:

   That the amendments (Senator Schacht' s ) be agreed to.