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

I can understand Senator Evans’s slight embarrassment: having berated us for the length of the bill, he now wants to add to the bill. I thought that was a clever ploy, actually; I rather enjoyed how you dealt with that issue, having complained about the size of the bill and then wanting to add to it. To be quite frank, I thought that was quite clever, if not persuasive.

What assurances can we give? People will look closely at what I have said in the second reading debate. They will look at administrative law, which you indicate does have some weight. It is true to say the minority report of the committee did not support this particular amendment, probably for the reasons I have stated. Senator, as I always say, we listen carefully to your arguments. We are a consultative government; we do listen to people, but we think the objectives you are seeking are in fact met. We think that people will have those assurances of procedural fairness and that reasons will be given on the show cause notice. After much deliberation, I am sorry to inform you that we will not be accepting your amendment.