Senator KEMP (Minister for the Arts and Sport) (9:56 PM) —Senator Greig, I hear what you say. Obviously, there may be an argument about what was said to whom, and that argument can continue. But the point I was making was about the amendments themselves: you have drafted amendments to amend the bill as it stands. So it becomes a law of the land. This is a highly technical bill. It is one thing whether your concerns were addressed—and obviously there will be debate on that. But, when you draft amendments like this, I receive the best advice the government can offer. It is not party political or ideological. There is no ideological debate involved in this as far as I can see. We are seeing amendments that I have been advised are simply unworkable. It simply is not good enough for you to say, `Well, I don't think they are.' It simply is not good enough to say that.

I think the process is flawed. Senator Greig and Senator Lundy have got together and have profoundly agreed with each other: I will have this amendment and you can have that amendment, and we will all profoundly agree. You have produced a series of amendments which, on the best advice available to the government, are simply unworkable. The industry will not accept them and the government will not accept them.

Senator Lundy —You're cracking me up.

Senator KEMP —Senator Lundy bursts into a giggling fit—well, that is a mature way to deal with an important bill! The truth is that it is a great pity. This is an important bill, and we have finally got it to this chamber. Senator Greig and Senator Lundy rush around and get these amendments drafted and profoundly agree with each other. The amendments are simply unworkable, all this time has been wasted and the bill will go back to the House of Representatives. Frankly, the government will not agree to a bill that cannot be properly administered.