Consideration resumed from 23 November.

The CHAIRMAN —Before I call on this bill, I would just like to make a statement in relation to the fact that some of these amendments are down as requests. There is no reason for them being framed as requests. The amendments would not lead to any increase in expenditure under the bill. On the contrary, the explanatory memorandum accompanying the amendments indicates that their financial impact is a total saving of $39.148 billion to the year ending 30 June 2004. The amendments therefore will not be treated as requests but as amendments.

Senator Newman —I table the supplementary memorandum relating to the government amendments to be moved to this bill. The memorandum was circulated in the chamber on 30 November.