Stephen Parry (Tasmania, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

by leave—I was just going to make a simple explanation, if I can, in relation to the comments of Senator Ludwig. It is just important to note that our Selection of Bills Committee meeting on 17 June this week was moved to a different timeslot. We were rushed out of the chamber to a meeting. We considered some 42 pieces of legislation at that meeting. When you are dealing with that much legislation, sometimes the scrutiny of every individual piece of legislation is not what it should be. The particular bill was originally listed in the non-controversial portion of the report but, after examination and reflection after the meeting, we came to the conclusion that it needs to be referred, as we have discussed. I just wanted to set the background as to why it was not dealt with in the Selection of Bills Committee meeting in the first instance.