Chris Evans (WA, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Government in the Senate) Share this | Hansard source

I think the import of Senator Scullion’s supplementary question was that he urges everyone to take the advice of a former President of the Labor Party over police figures in the Northern Territory, which I find an unusual stance for a member of the coalition to take. Nevertheless, we maintain the view that the permit system serves a useful purpose and that it will be a contributor to the overall objectives of the Northern Territory intervention, which we supported immediately. We gave bipartisan support to it at the time the then Prime Minister Howard announced that intervention. Prime Minister Rudd’s government remains committed to that intervention. But we do some things slightly differently, Senator Scullion. The government has changed. We have a different approach to yours. The majority of the measures will be maintained. But on permits, the CDEP and a number of other issues, we have a different approach.