Santo Santoro (Queensland, Liberal Party, Minister for Ageing) Share this | Hansard source

Again, it is a very wide-ranging, hypothetical question that is being put to the government by Senator McLucas and Senator Allison. The amendment that is being proposed would be very prescriptive and would require a list of people and bodies that need to be consulted, which would be unwieldy and certainly not enhancing of good process of consultation.

The question is asked: who do you not intend to consult? There is no answer that can be given to that question, because the government has not set about putting forward amendments to the legislation with a view to excluding anybody. It is just not reasonable, with respect to senators opposite, to put that proposition forward in this place or anywhere else with any credibility. For that reason, and for the reasons that I have stated, we will not be supporting the amendment.