Daryl Melham (Banks, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

The reason that I put that as an alternative to the opposition is that, if they vote in favour of the government’s revised amendments, that is not the end of the matter. It is not as if we have dudded you and it becomes law. It will have to go back to the Senate and Senator Ronaldson, the honourable shadow minister can go through it with a fine toothcomb—as he does. But I say to you: there is nothing wrong with taking us on trust in relation to the nature and quality of these amendments. What stands out at the moment in the government’s proposed amendments that looks fishy? Nothing. It is just, ‘We don’t trust you because we were given them late.’ I say to you: you have the safety net of giving us a belting in the Senate when these amendments return there—and that is the proper way to do it. It is obvious now that both sides have agreed on the defined area of this bill. That is what appears to be coming through. I am sure that Senator Ronaldson can maintain the rage in the Senate if what the government proposes is not what will actually be achieved by the bill. I implore the opposition: for once in your life take us on trust. If we let you down, give us a belting in the Senate.

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