Senator FAULKNER (Leader of the Opposition in the Senate)(5.49 p.m.) —In relation to amendment No. 7, I have indicated that I do agree that locational issues are important, but I believe the previous amendment does effectively deal with that particular matter. That matter will be dealt with again, I expect, under the aims of the bill. As far as amendment Nos 8 and 11 are concerned, I do believe the amendment we have dealt with in relation to ecologically appropriate housing is quite adequate to deal with the substantive issues Senator Margetts envisages here in those three amendments, as well as in relation to amendment No. 9.

In relation to amendment No. 9, this part of the preamble of the bill deals with those who might be parties in the provision of housing assistance, where private sector involvement is encouraged. The private sector does have a legitimate role to play in the provision of housing. It can complement the provision of housing by other parties. I do not believe it is appropriate to insert the phrase proposed by Senator Margetts, which I think could be misconstrued as effectively limiting the role of the private sector to that of a subsidiary, rather than a complement. It is for all those reasons that the opposition will be opposing amendment Nos 7, 8, 9 and 11.