Barnaby Joyce (Queensland, National Party) Share this | Hansard source

Senator Stott Despoja said this was policy on the run, and I just want to be fair to the minister and clarify why that is not the case. This is an issue that has been under discussion with the minister’s office for quite some time. Correspondence has gone from the minister’s office back to my office with regard to this issue. It is an issue that has been publicly discussed, even in the Melbourne Herald Sun today and on Triple J yesterday. So it is an issue that has been discussed openly. The minister has kindly provided a clarification for the Hansard to respect the intent of this chamber that the Australian people get to hear it on the record. I know that Senator Stott Despoja has strong beliefs about this, and today I approached her in this chamber to further discuss it. I think it brings a sense of security and a belief that there will continue to be social and economic mobility in Australia by allowing people to progress by their own efforts at high school and go into a higher economic field.