Andrew Murray (WA, Australian Democrats) Share this | Hansard source

Of course, I refute the central proposition—that is, that it is not appropriate for parliament to determine what it likes about legislation. I actually regard the parliament as superior to the government and the executive. I regard the parliament as the pre-eminent body, not the government and the executive. So I think parliament is entitled to do what it feels it should. Of course, I recognise that parliament will not decide that matter today. But, more importantly, the difficulty is that the bill does not give a date, and I have attempted to provide a date. The problem with the minister’s answer is that it does not resolve the issue that the Scrutiny of Bills Committee has properly drawn to the attention of the Senate.

As this amendment will be rejected, I therefore have a question for the minister: is it the intention of the government to periodically report on whether and when a sale might occur? Let us take what I think is a silly example, but let me take it because in theory it is possible. If by 2015 a sale had not occurred, it would be a bit odd to have a bill out there which just says, ‘A sale could occur any time up to the 22nd century.’ I know that is a silly example and it is exaggerated to make the point. I am really asking: is there a reporting mechanism whereby the parliament will be aware that an open-ended bill is still out there?