George Brandis (Queensland, Liberal Party, Shadow Attorney-General) Share this | Hansard source

I do not want to prolong this, but can I just say four things very briefly in reply. First of all, we are not accusing the government of delay. We are accusing the government of offering a less satisfactory mechanism—one which, as the minister concedes, does not secure the rights of potential claimants but leaves them at the mercy of the exercise of a ministerial discretion. Secondly, with respect, Senator Wong, when you yourself thanked the Senate committee for the work that it had done, and when you are about to propose extensive amendments inspired by and informed by the deliberations of that committee, which it is plainly the government’s view will improve—