Chris Ellison (WA, Liberal Party, Minister for Justice and Customs) Share this | Hansard source

The government is not dealing with that aspect at this point in time. That would be one of the matters which would fall into the category that I mentioned earlier—it would be considered over the coming months. At this stage, the government is inclined to oppose any amendment which would reflect that, but that does not mean to say that the government would not continue to give consideration to these recommendations. As I said earlier, these matters have not been included in the government amendments tonight because the government is not prepared to give an undertaking one way or another on those particular issues tonight. That is why the Attorney-General has left the gate open, so to speak, on the consideration of recommendations generally made by the committee.

We have picked up some of the recommendations made by the committee, and they are reflected in the amendments which the government are moving tonight. But, as for the remainder, at this stage we are not prepared to make them the subject of amendments—notwithstanding the fact that we would still continue to consider those recommendations. As in recommendation 16, I appreciate the point Senator Ludwig made, but the government’s view is that at this stage we cannot give an undertaking as to support or otherwise. If we were pushed to the issue so that we had to vote on it tonight because of an amendment which reflected those recommendations then the government would oppose that.