Paul Fletcher (Bradfield, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

Given that the House is presently in the consideration in detail phase, this obviously presents an opportunity for the minister to explain to the House the merits of the amendments which were made in the Senate and why it is that he is putting to the House that the House ought to adopt these amendments. I note in passing that it is therefore entirely inappropriate for the minister to be asking the member for Forde or anybody else, 'How are you voting?' It reveals a disturbing lack of understanding of the procedure that we are presently going through, because the procedure we are going through is for the minister to explain the merits of the amendments to the House so that the House can then make an assessment.

But let me turn to the specific question which I raised in my previous contribution and which was sadly overlooked in the magnificent collection of non sequiturs with which the minister entertained the House some time ago. The question that I would like an answer from the minister on is a very specific one. I want to understand the rationale for the legislative strategy which has been adopted in proposing the addition of proposed sections 966, 967 and 968. These proposed sections give effect to the legislative scheme under which there will be the operation of the substantial provisions of both of these bills when they pass into being acts—

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