Senator SHERRY (9:22 PM) —I do need to indicate the position of the Labor opposition to the amendment that the government has moved. I wish to do that now. The circumstances the minister has outlined are correct. Following the concerns outlined by our shadow minister Ms Gillard in the other place, concerns that I also touched on tonight in my contribution, the government has taken up at least some of the suggestions made and they are reflected in the amendment we have before us moved by the government. For the reasons that Ms Gillard and I have touched on, we will be supporting the amendment moved by the government.

I will just touch on one other matter, as Senator Bartlett raised it again. I know we have debated it twice today already. That matter is the issue of the referral of the bill to a committee. We did have the opportunity, as Senator Bartlett knows, to refer the matter to a legislation committee. Regrettably, the actions of Senator Bartlett last week on the Selection of Bills Committee effectively blocked such a move. Whatever Senator Bartlett's view of a legislation committee hearing is, and I think he has made clear his dim view of it, I certainly know, having participated in many legislation committee hearings over a number of years, that they are an effective forum for hearing from the community and from the various interested groups, parties and individuals about their concerns about pieces of legislation. I was just looking at the make-up of the Legal and Constitutional Legislation Committee, and I saw that my colleague Senator Cooney, who is in the chamber tonight, is a member. He always makes a perceptive and valuable contribution in his questioning. If the bill had gone to the legislation committee which, as I say, by your actions, Senator Bartlett, you prevented from occurring, I am sure the committee would have had sufficient time to ask some at least of the questions we are dealing with tonight and to obtain some answers. It is not my intention to go over that ground again, but I felt it necessary just to mention that in indicating the Labor opposition's support for the amendment we have before us.