Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Climate Change and Water) Share this | Hansard source

Can I deal with this sequentially. First, Senator Siewert, you raise the issue of fairness, and I appreciate the position you are putting. The point I also make is that there are two other aspects of fairness I would ask you to consider. One is the framework—that is, the test against which an agreement is assessed. Obviously there is a no disadvantage test that is much more substantive and real here. Second, I also make the point that, potentially, delay can be an issue of fairness as well, and the government is cognisant of that. Senator Murray raises the point that I was going to respond to in relation to this. I can indicate that we will consider this issue in the context of the substantive bill. I can put it no higher than that, but certainly there are some arguments that have been raised that the government will take into account when considering our substantive bill.