Rod Kemp (Victoria, Liberal Party, Minister for the Arts and Sport) Share this | Hansard source

The other thing I would say to Senator McLucas and to Senator Webber is: I think you should have consulted with the sector. That is what you should do. The department has consulted with the sector, and the six-month period is understood and accepted. It does seem a little bit ironic that Senator McLucas—perhaps with the best of intentions; I make no judgment but I assume it was with the best of intentions—has moved an amendment that simply does not make sense. It does not make sense to the public. Senator McLucas could not explain this to a parent who could not obtain a place because of the inflexibility of the Labor Party amendment. Senator McLucas, I am a senator, as you know, who tries to answer questions, one who tries to assist the debate, but I think that this is a bad amendment and it is one which the government will not be accepting.

Question negatived.