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

I take the interjection from Senator Abetz that we are a very consultative government, and we will continue to be consultative. Seeking to be as specific as I can in response to Senator Stott Despoja’s question, I can say that the report provided advice about what scientific and ethical issues were considered when the legislation was debated in 2002. The report also sought to explore what changes or new issues were identified by the Lockhart review. To that extent, that report is obviously judged as being very important in terms of continuing to develop the government’s attitude and the government’s response to these issues as they are raised within the community from time to time.

I am sure that no senator in this place, or anybody else beyond this place, needs me to reiterate that these are complex matters and that it is not unusual for the Prime Minister’s department to seek additional expert advice on technical issues like this. We got a report which I believe adds to the sum of knowledge that is available to government on this issue. Whether the report will be released and made public—I have not yet been advised to that effect, but I can assure you that it is the Prime Minister’s intention to continue to have ‘a very lengthy debate about this issue’. He also went on to say over the weekend that there was a ‘very strong view expressed about the matter’ that resulted in the current legislation. I am sure that, as the debate continues, the contents of that report and undoubtedly other pieces of research that have been commissioned beyond this parliament will become available and known to people in the community.