Lyn Allison (Victoria, Australian Democrats) Share this | Hansard source

This amendment amends opposition amendment (2) on their sheet 5463 which removed the ability of the minister to request that Infrastructure Australia investigate and advise on the full range of issues that are described in the bill under clause 5, from proposed subclause (2)(a) right through to (2)(k). The opposition amendment provided that:

        (3)    Infrastructure Australia may perform a function under subsection (1) or paragraph (2)(a), (b), (c), (d), (e), (f), (g) or (i) if it thinks fit.

My amendment is to include a capacity for Infrastructure Australia to perform tasks related to the items listed on the opposition amendment if the minister requests that of Infrastructure Australia, as well as ‘if it thinks fit’—that is, Infrastructure Australia. I hope that is clear. I move Democrat amendment (1) on sheet 5467:

(1)    At the end of subclause 5(3), as amended, add “or on request by the Minister”.

It is more consistent with the government’s legislation in the first instance than the amendment was. I understand the opposition will support this amendment.