Natasha Stott Despoja (SA, Australian Democrats) Share this | Hansard source

I would not be inclined to support the amendments without some clarification. I do not think Senator Brown put forward the rationale for some of these amendments. As you would note, in the supplementary report the Democrats did not come out opposing the transfer of functions in relation to the Attorney-General’s Department. The argument that was put forward by the department was that there were technological issues. The model was technologically outdated and no longer efficient. I have no reason not to believe that to be the case. I do not really want to tamper with that proposed transfer at the moment from the existing TIRAC register to the secretary of the Attorney-General’s Department. I am quite happy to investigate or more closely view how operations work in the future, but at this stage I am not inclined to support the amendment.

Part two of amendment (6) seeks to remove schedule 6 of the bill, which introduces sections to allow this act to apply to the Whistleblowers Protection Act of Victoria. I am not sure I am ready to tamper with that, either. Through the chair, I say to Senator Nettle on behalf of the Democrats that I am afraid that I will not be supporting these amendments.