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

The government does not support this Democrat amendment. While the government recognises the value of research and evaluation in providing a sound evidence base on which to build future policy, it does not believe that a review which is locked in by legislation is appropriate. In response to recommendation 55 of the report of the House of Representatives Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee on the exposure draft of this bill, the government agreed with a need for appropriate monitoring and evaluation of the effect of the legislation. I agree with Senator Ludwig that continual evaluation is more appropriate.

I should also mention the proposed Family First amendment (1). Senator Boswell is here in the committee today moving amendments on behalf of Senator Fielding from Family First as Senator Fielding is not able to attend the Senate due to ill health. Family First amendment (1) seeks a review as well. In that regard, we would say to both Family First and the Democrats that we will undertake an initial review of the bill in three years. That is an undertaking I can give to Senator Stott Despoja, and to Senator Boswell to convey to Senator Fielding. I appreciate that both those amendments are concerned with keeping this under review and scrutiny, and the government is not averse to that—this is just about the way we do it. We believe in constant evaluation. We also give the undertaking that in three years there will be an initial review of the legislation.

We should note that if there was to be a review in two years it would not take into account the full impact of the expansion in the funding of services, including family relationship centres, provided in the 2005-06 budget. We think three years is better, as that gives time for those effects to be felt. For those reasons, we oppose Democrat amendment (1) and we can foreshadow that we will oppose Family First amendment (1) as well.