Lyn Allison (Victoria, Australian Democrats) Share this | Hansard source

I think that is acceptable. I would like this minister to explain what it is about these amendments which are so objectionable to the government. If the appointment of people such as the Private Health Insurance Ombudsman is conducted on merit, then why not have it in the act? Can the minister indicate what it is that is wrong with appointment being on the basis of principles of merit, independent scrutiny of appointments, probity, openness and transparency? I would have thought that this point in time would be a good one for the minister to support this. This would demonstrate that the government actually was interested in openness, probity, independent scrutiny and so on. Is it the review of the code of practice, is it that it is inviting public comment, or is it the fact that it would be a disallowable instrument? What exactly is it about these amendments, just for my information, which the government does not think it can live with?