Nick Minchin (SA, Liberal Party, Minister for Finance and Administration) Share this | Hansard source

I am not in the practice of giving guarantees in this place that I cannot honour—that is certainly not the way I behave. I am not the lead minister on the Dawson bill or the section 46 amendments; they are a matter for the Treasurer. I am not involved in the detailed negotiation behind the timing of the debate on those bills, so I am simply not in a position here and now to give any such guarantee. But I have undertaken, in the words of Senator O’Brien, to ensure that the government’s best endeavours will be directed towards ensuring the passage of those two pieces of legislation prior to the commencement of this provision on 1 March 2007 and the ALP amendment which we have accepted.

I will give my word to the Senate that I will certainly be active within the government to ensure that we do seek to achieve that objective, but I am simply not in a position to give guarantees that I cannot be sure can be delivered. I do undertake to use best endeavours to ensure that comes about. That is the government’s objective. Our detailed proposition with respect to the Dawson package is on the table. The details of our proposals with respect to section 46 are on the table. The Senate, the parliament and the community are well aware of what the government has in mind. I certainly, for my own sake, very much hope that they will be in place by 1 March 2007 and, within the government, I will seek to ensure that occurs, but I am not able to respond to the request to give absolute, unconditional guarantees.