Cathy McGowan (Indi, Independent) Share this | Hansard source

I too would like to respond to the comment from the government. Absolutely, it is true that there is confusion, but there is no argument about how broad this particular area of work is. There was a really good recommendation in the report that was tabled in February 2016—that we should overhaul the system and have one act of parliament that would bring it all together with really clear purpose, and go back to the drawing board to get rid of the confusion.

Minister, I would be really keen to hear your response to that. What is the government's plan for giving us an act of parliament to cover off on this topic? I have not seen in any of the literature I have been reading, nor in any of the briefings that we have had, that there is any commitment from the government to implement that recommendation in the report—one act of parliament that covers it all off and makes it clear. So often in this parliament, when we try to fix things up, we make something like a smorgasbord of everything. I think in this particular instance we need to do exactly what your report has said—develop one act of parliament. Let's clear it all up, let's simplify it and let's stop trying to fix it by adding little pieces at the side that will make it even more confusing and more hard. I welcome your comments, and I would be really keen to hear your advice on when the government is going to accept that particular recommendation.

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