Andrew Bartlett (Queensland, Australian Democrats) Share this | Hansard source

To add a comment on behalf of the Democrats on these amendments: for what it is worth, we would support Labor’s amendment, which obviously is not going to impact on its success. The government amendments, as the minister has said, reflect the recommendations of the Senate committee report. I acknowledge that and voice my appreciation for a government that does actually listen to Senate committee recommendations. I think they do go some way to modifying some of the problems that were identified by the inquiry. I expressed my support for them as well in my additional comments to the report.

I should also, whilst I am on my feet, indicate that my understanding is—I think I heard the minister say this in speaking to his amendments—that the government amendments go to the issue that the Democrat amendments (4) to (6) were seeking to address regarding prescribed body corporates. If I am correct in that—I am noting a nod from the minister, so I foreshadow that I will not proceed with Democrat amendments (4) to (6) as I think they are basically addressed by the amendments the government has put forward.