Senator BOLKUS(8.57 p.m.) —I think the importance in terms of date is that the date goes very close to the date of the Wik judgment, which is being used as a benchmark for many amendments of the government in this particular debate. We say that what was going on then is fair enough but if you want to give an exclusion to acts of opal and gem mining on an ongoing basis then that should not happen. We do draw the line in terms of 26 December, whereas the government does not have such a line.

Amendments 122 and 123 not agreed to.

Amendments 36, 36A, 37, 37A and 37B agreed to.

The TEMPORARY CHAIRMAN —Senator Harradine, my understanding is that you do not wish to proceed with amendment No. 36?