Joe Ludwig (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Manager of Government Business in the Senate) Share this | Hansard source

by leave—The government does not support this motion. It was the opposition’s decision to insert their amendment into a section of the act that does not commence until November 2009. This timing was clearly outlined in the explanatory memorandum that accompanied the bill at the time that it was being debated, so the opposition was aware of the likely time frame. The government is on track to complete the necessary work required to commence operation of this section of the act in November. Commencing this section of the act prior to the necessary work being completed would result in a legally ineffective environmental impact assessment, enforcement and offences regime and could create confusion and imposts for marine park users. It is not legally possible to commence the specific amendments separately to schedules 4 and 6. For those reasons, we do not support the motion.