Richard Colbeck (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Finance and Administration) Share this | Hansard source

The government will not be supporting the amendments. The legislation is to allow plebiscites to take place and also to stop state governments—in this case, the Queensland state Labor government—from legislating against plebiscites. There has been some focus from the opposition on plebiscites on nuclear facilities. I think they were almost successful in naming every electorate in the country—obviously, as part of a scare campaign. The Prime Minister has quite clearly said that there will be plebiscites on nuclear facilities and I think it is quite reasonable for that to occur. The Prime Minister has quite clearly put that on the table. The AEC now has the legislative ability to conduct plebiscites on any issue on a fee-for-service basis, so there is nothing to stop plebiscites of that nature going ahead. The government will not be supporting the amendments.

Question put:

That the amendments (Senator Murray’s) be agreed to.