Senator WOODLEY (12:56 PM) —The Democrats will also be supporting this amendment. I thank the parliamentary secretary for answering a couple of my questions in her second reading speech. I had to go out of the chamber, but I have read her speech and was reassured at that point. I have a couple of quick questions in relation to the amendments. I am aware, as is the chamber, that the amendments, as written, had to be written that way, particularly because of the tax implications. I note in your second reading speech, Parliamentary Secretary, that you say some of these issues are still to be fully explored with the Australian Taxation Office. I am happy for that to occur. That is a process that will continue. I presume you would not have any more information today. If you do have, we would be happy to have it.

The other question I raised was about the sunset clause. I am seeking confirmation—it is more or less there—of my reading of the Wool International Privatisation Bill 1999 , which is that nothing in the bill prevents a future decision by the directors. Is that the government's understanding of the bill as well?

Senator Troeth —Yes.

Senator WOODLEY —That is good. I was looking for that. It was not absolutely clear in the second reading speech. You may not be able to answer this question—I would be happy for you to say `pass'. There was a lot of discussion in the committee about the possibility of substantial offers to buy the total amount of the wool stockpile and some assurance given by Mr McGauchie that he would ensure that at the first annual general meeting that information would be available to members. I do not know whether the government has any information on whether that process is being progressed. If you do have information, it would be useful for the chamber to have it.

Lastly—and I meant to say this in my speech during the second reading debate—I want to acknowledge all of the players in this process, particularly the small group of wool growers in Victoria who informed me over the last five or six years in this debate and eventually became the Australian Wool Growers Association. I found their persistence and sometimes quite aggressive continuation of the point they were wanting to make to be very helpful. They certainly kept me up to the mark.

It is very interesting in terms of agri- and agro-politics that a group of players quite outside the statutory body and the main peak bodies was able to stay with the game and influence the decisions that have been made. Perhaps there ought to be room in agro- and agri-politics for groups like that. I suspect, unless we do something different, the same process as has happened with the wool industry is going to happen with the dairy industry. Growers who are dissatisfied with the representation that they get from their peak bodies are going to continue to work outside the system if they cannot work inside it.