Senator FAULKNER (11:40 AM) —I support the proposal by Senator Bartlett. After the committee's revisionism on the opposition's preferred amendment and approach, I think it is important that now this particular amendment be supported so that the provisions in the current act in relation to prisoners, at a minimum, stay. At a later stage Senator Brown may again engage in the debate about progressing his other amendments. But this, though not the preferred approach of the opposition, does maintain the five-year rule in the act. And I think that is important.

I think that is a much better compromise than the government's proposal to remove all entitlements for prisoners to vote and enrol. I would point out to Senator Brown that ensuring that all prisoners, regardless of length of sentence, can participate in the electoral process is a more balanced approach than what the government is proposing, which is to remove all rights for prisoners in relation to voting and enrolment.

It is not perfect, and obviously the opposition's amendments would have improved the act as it currently stands. But this is the preferable course of action to maintain this provision that not only is current Commonwealth law but, of course, has also found favour in a majority of state and terri tory jurisdictions. So there is also this issue of consistency across the states, territories and the Commonwealth. So I think, in the circumstances and, as I say, after the committee's recent revisionism, Senator Bartlett's amendment is worthy of support and is a principled position to draw the sort of distinction that is appropriate in relation to prisoners' voting rights.