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

As I have already indicated—perhaps not precisely enough, given I had a range of other commentary around—we are well aware of your concerns, but there will be a time for debate for you to determine whether those concerns are met when Senator Conroy has completed his process. I am not going to pre-empt the outcome of that process at the moment. The tender process has only just commenced. Whatever legislative requirements flow from the process that Senator Conroy has oversighted, there will be a judgement made. You may or may not be satisfied. I would contend you will be satisfied, without pre-empting that process’s outcome. But you will have a capacity to address whatever deficiencies you identify—hopefully you do not identify any—after Senator Conroy’s process is completed, when we consider effectively the outcome of the process he has been through in that legislation. I think that is the time for you to make your call. It is very difficult if we are expected not even to get to first base because the funding is not provided. That is what this bill goes to. I understand your concerns, but my hope is that you will make a judgement when Senator Conroy gets to the legislative requirements around his process, when it is completed.