Rod Kemp (Victoria, Liberal Party, Minister for the Arts and Sport) Share this | Hansard source

It is a pity that the hour is late, because it does allow people perhaps to vent some spleen, which they would not normally do. Senator Evans, when you mentioned that you agreed with us you did mention the Northern Territory government. I would have preferred you to characterise it as being the Northern Territory Labor government that agreed with us. But you did not mention another group that agreed with us on this, the Northern Land Council.

The government is between a rock and a hard place. If we do not accept something, Senator Evans and Senator Siewert stand up and say how terrible we are that we do not agree. When we do agree, Senator Evans and Senator Siewert stand up and say: ‘Isn’t it terrible? They are making policy on the run.’ It is a bit hard to satisfy people who behave in this fashion. But, from the government’s position, let me say that we have listened. This is an improvement to the bill and we are very happy with this improvement.

Question agreed to.

by leave—The government opposes schedule 1 in the following terms:

(5)    Schedule 1, item 46, page 24 (lines 15 to 20), section 19B to be opposed.

(14)  Schedule 1, item 201A, page 80 (lines 14 to 19), to be opposed.

These are essentially the same issues. They give effect to the amendments that, as I understand it, have just been passed by this chamber, so I think they should be supported, as were the previous amendments.