Senator ALLISON (11:36 AM) —I do not wish to pursue this debate and take up the time of the chamber, but it is not the first time that I have heard the government suggest that superannuation for parliamentarians cannot be dealt with until this bill is out of the way. All this bill does is connect our remuneration with some benchmark which disappeared a couple of years ago. This is nothing to do with superannuation. It is unreasonable for the minister to suggest that the chamber is holding up any sort of consideration of parliamentary super, and I reject that suggestion strongly and totally. Again, this does not satisfy me in terms of being a first stage in a two-stage process. I hear no real undertaking that anything reasonable will arise some time in the future. I am not hearing the minister suggest that there is any commitment at all to proceeding to the reform of the parliamentary super scheme.

The TEMPORARY CHAIRMAN (Senator Knowles) —Senator Allison, are you going to move your amendments?

Senator ALLISON —Yes. I seek leave to move Democrat amendments Nos 1 to 4 on sheet 1582 together.

Leave granted.

Senator ALLISON —I move:

(1) Schedule 1, page 37 (after line 1), before item 150, insert:

150A Section 3

Omit "Chairman" (wherever occurring), substitute "Chair".

150B Section 4 (definition of Chairman )

Repeal the definition, substitute:

Chair means the Chair of the ACA.

150C Section 4 (definition of Deputy Chairman )

Repeal the definition, substitute:

Deputy Chair means the Deputy Chair of the ACA.

150D Section 16

Omit "Chairman" (wherever occurring), substitute "Chair".

150E Subsections 17(2) and (3)

Omit "Chairman" (wherever occurring), substitute "Chair".

150F Subsections 22(3), (4) and (5)

Omit "Chairman" (wherever occurring), substitute "Chair".

150G Section 24

Omit "Chairman" (wherever occurring), substitute "Chair".

150H Subsections 34(1) and (2)

Omit "Chairman" (wherever occurring), substitute "Chair".

(2) Schedule 1, page 37 (after line 4), after item 150, insert:

150J Subsections 35(2), (3) and (4)

Omit "Chairman" (wherever occurring), substitute "Chair".

150K Subsections 39(1), (2) and (3)

Omit "Chairman" (wherever occurring), substitute "Chair".

(3) Schedule 1, item 152, page 37 (lines 10 to 13), omit "Chairman" (wherever occurring), substitute "Chair".

(4) Schedule 1, page 37 (after line 13), after item 152, insert:

152A Subsections 48(4) and (5)

Omit "Chairman" (wherever occurring), substitute "Chair".

These amendments are similar to those moved to the last bill and remove the word `chairman' and substitute `chair'. This provides a choice for women in particular to be named by a term other than `chairman'. Obviously women are not men and we think there ought to be an opportunity in this day and age for them to be called chair or what ever else they choose to be called. I am surprised that `chairman' is still appearing in legislation before the Senate. It is my understanding that the Acts Interpretation Act 1901 would have prevented that from happening. I would be interested in a response from the minister as to why this legislation has appeared in this form in relation to the word `chairman'.