Joe Ludwig (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Manager of Opposition Business in the Senate) Share this | Hansard source

I wrapped up the debate in the previous amendment. It is worth indicating that the reason that Labor are not supporting the amendment is not that it may not provide a matter that the AFP requires and it is not that it is a matter that the AFP may not need. We do not know that. I am not convinced by the late submissions by the minister about this particular provision, and our concerns are that, without more information, it should not be supported. There was an opportunity for it to either go to the committee or be dealt with in a more fulsome way. There was no opportunity afforded to us to ensure that it will have the intended effect and will not have any unintended effect.

Having said all that, it is a matter that may prove to have otherwise garnered Labor support, but without more it is one of those matters that we are not minded to support. As I have indicated, we will not divide on it but it is disappointing in the sense that it looks like it is being brought late, outside the original bill and not as an amendment to improve the bill but as a matter that has been added on. On that basis, the Senate has not had the ability to give it appropriate scrutiny. We have not had the scrutiny of the AFP to explain how it will operate and the need for this type of provision, nor have other interested parties examined the provision. On that basis, I think it is reasonable that Labor do not support the amendment.