Chris Evans (WA, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition in the Senate) Share this | Hansard source

I thank the minister for the answer, but perhaps I ought to go back a step. The provisions of the amendment bill seek to provide the possibility of a Commonwealth government entity. I am interested to know whether or not that is planned or whether that is a fallback position. Why is it envisaged? You said, Minister, that your practical plans involve a Northern Territory statutory authority, although you then said something about a Northern Territory department. I was a bit confused in the end about whether it was either-or in terms of a statutory authority or department. Equally, I am interested to know why the Commonwealth entity is envisaged if the object of the legislation is a Northern Territory statutory authority.