Nick Sherry (Tasmania, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Superannuation and Corporate Law) Share this | Hansard source

The government opposes the amendment moved by the opposition. I note the very helpful contribution of my colleague, Senator Crossin, in pointing out one of the communities—Elliott. From the government’s perspective, it is unclear why the opposition is opposing this sensible workability measure. The prohibited materials ban was intended to be consistent with the alcohol ban, which allowed transit. Schedule 2 to the bill addresses this anomaly by allowing prohibited material to be transported through prescribed areas as long as its destination is outside a prescribed area. We just cannot see why the Liberal opposition is persisting with this amendment in light of the eminently sensible position—even half-conceded or a bit more than half-conceded by Senator Scullion—that the government is advancing.