Nick Xenophon (SA, Independent) Share this | Hansard source

I have followed this debate and I would be grateful to get comments from the minister on this, but my understanding of the opposition’s amendments is that they do require a level of consultation: it will be through a disallowable instrument. I know that there is a concern, in regional South Australia in particular, that people could be prejudiced with respect to this, and I note Senator Conroy’s comments that the switch-over must occur and that it must occur as quickly as possible. My understanding of the opposition’s amendments, however, is that their principal purpose is to require readiness criteria to be the subject of consultation with communities, and that it would still be a disallowable instrument. If the criteria are reasonable, I cannot see what harm it would do. So I am inclined to support the amendments, but I am more than happy to listen to the minister’s argument.