Chris Evans (WA, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Government in the Senate) Share this | Hansard source

We oppose the amendment on two grounds. One is the basic argument about the attempt to undermine the capacity to issue permits where appropriate. This is part of that overall approach by the opposition. The other aspect is that it is a nonsense. It does not have any effect, as far as we are concerned. The idea is that the minister must make a determination, but it does not say about what, where or when. I think it does not make any sense. But, in the sense of the main argument, it is just a continuation of the earlier and longstanding arguments about the role of the permit system.