Senator IAN CAMPBELL (1:30 PM) —I thank Senator Lundy and Senator Stott Despoja for their contributions to the debate here in the chamber and outside the chamber—to the very important debate on year 2K preparations in the community and the negotiations that we have held around this bill. They have been entirely constructive and will result in Australia moving further ahead in her preparations as a nation for the date change, which will occur in roundabout 316 days time.

Australia has, as has been referred to by both the other participants in this debate, led the world in many respects in Y2K preparations. There has been incredible cooperation between the levels of government and between government and industry. It makes one proud to be an Australian to see that we are able to achieve this sort of world leading role in what is undoubtedly a very complex and challenging problem that requires so much effort at so many levels. However, contrary to what has been said in relation to the disclosure regime, Australia is recognised internationally by leading organisations as having one of the best government disclosure regimes on the globe.

The changes that took place to that regime as a result of a federal-state ministers meeting with industry on 17 December, to bring all of the states together to report on a common format, really did take Australia ahead of even the United States in terms of the quality of government reporting. Every state and the Commonwealth, as well as some utilities, I might say, will be reporting on a similar format as from the first couple of weeks of March—this coming disclosure period. That is something that has not been able to be achieved in any other nation. We are committed to continuing to increase the level of transparency and quality of information so that Australian citizens and businesses can make sensible decisions about Y2K preparedness.

There are two other things I wanted to mention. Senator Stott Despoja made a very important point about being flexible in our approach. I do not think that was the word she used, but she said we need to reserve the right to alter our approach to this problem and that, indeed, is why we want to keep an open mind about improving the government's own preparations and assisting industry. Also, we cannot be complacent, even though Australia is regarded as being amongst the best nations as far as our preparations go. There are many areas in which we have to improve our game and we cannot be complacent about it with 316 days to go.

Finally, I would like to say that Australia would not be in the position that she is in as a nation if it had not been for the efforts of a number of remarkable and quite outstanding individuals in the preparations—and there are probably hundreds of them. But I would like to take this opportunity to remark on the very good work of the Y2K unit in the Office for Government Online of the Department of Communications, Information Technology and the Arts headed by Susan Page, who is here today; and also Maurice Newman, who has led the fight internationally. As chairman of the ASX and Deutsche Bank and head of our industry program, he has been one of the key people on the globe in terms of raising awareness and getting people to take action. Australians should be proud of Morris's work in this field and, of course, his chief executive officer, Graeme Inchley. There are many others who work with those people, but these individuals deserve mention here.

I genuinely thank the opposition and the Democrats and all other senators who have allowed this bill to be progressed so quickly. It shows what can be done with a truly non-partisan agenda in Australia. It is something we should be proud of. I commend the bill to the Senate.

Question resolved in the affirmative.

Bill read a second time.