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

It will not come as a surprise to the Democrats in this respect that we do not support the amendment as put forward by the Democrats. I can understand the principle behind the amendment, and perhaps we share the principle of improving the protections in this legislation to ensure that there is the right balance. It is not a matter that we think fits into that framework, although on that basis we accept the principle but perhaps not the final words that have been put forward. We do not see even a way of separating it so we could provide support. It is probably easiest just to indicate that we will not supporting these Democrat amendments.