Senator ALLISON (8:34 PM) —I would like to respond to the comments of Senator Evans. The Democrats are very keen to engage in discussion and policy debate. I do not think we have ever said that we would not do that. In fact, that is the key problem that we have with the amendments that the ALP has put up: not so much that we have not had a chance to see them but that consultation has not taken place with the industry. If one thing is very clear, it is that you cannot introduce change in this whole sector without having roundtable discussions that work through these issues and provisions in a very thorough manner with the consumers, the nursing home providers and others with an interest in this area. It is not the intention of the Democrats to step aside from any sort of discussion or consultation with anybody, including the ALP.

Senator Evans may have caught me at a bad time on Thursday. I remind him that it was a very long day on which there were a number of attacks on me and the Democrats by the ALP. Perhaps he caught the rough end of the pineapple, as my mother would say. I hope we are not on the wrong foot. I am new to aged care, as Senator Evans would be aware. My colleague Senator John Woodley previously had this portfolio. He was the one with the carriage of the legislation the last time around. We are not into wasteful rhetoric and abuse either, so I look forward to this debate and to reason and argument being the order of the day rather than any sort of ill feeling amongst us. I can assure Senator Evans that we have a great deal of sympathy for the sentiment behind the amendments that have been put forward. We are happy to take those discussions further with the sector and to argue them through.

We have not stepped aside from recognising the real problems, to use your words, Senator Evans. If you have another look at my second reading speech, you will notice that we criticised the government for their lack of response to the Productivity Commission report, and we will keep doing that. We are not here to simply say, `We came on board with the first round of legislation, so we now own it, and we mustn't criticise anybody for it.' We will, as we always do, make judgments about legislation and about amendments based on argument. I hope we can continue in that fashion.