Kerry O'Brien (Tasmania, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Primary Industries, Fisheries and Forestry) Share this | Hansard source

I have some general questions that I seek to put. Since this bill has not been to a Senate committee for inquiry I hope that the minister is able to answer a number of questions. Could the minister explain, in relation to schedule 1, why the provisions in 5DA talk about ‘requesting’ rather than ‘requiring’ the production of information? Could the minister explain why the commission is not to have powers under this provision to forcibly obtain information, rather than simply make a casual request?