Eric Abetz (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Minister for Fisheries, Forestry and Conservation) Share this | Hansard source

Without seeking to prolong the debate on this at all, I note the senator’s suggestion that the certification of service providers should not be open-ended. I absolutely assure the senator in committee that this legislation would not provide any open-ended period for certification. Any new operator or service provider seeking to provide a service who is then successful as to a contractual arrangement with the government would have an absolute maximum of 12 months in which to gain certification. If they did not get certification within that 12-month period it would be over and out. Under the terms of the contract, they would be out and therefore the suggestion that somehow this is open-ended is rejected by the government.

Question negatived.