Bob Brown (Tasmania, Australian Greens) Share this | Hansard source

Yes, I am being very discreet, Senator Abetz, in pointing out that it was four months since those two supplementary memoranda came before the Senate. The government is saying, ‘You can’t have this amendment because it will delay by a day’—because that is all it would take—‘this amendment going to the other place and being accepted.’

I say to Senator Abetz and the coalition that the government, if it succeeds in having this amendment turned down today, is simply going to be encouraged in its determination to get rid of the registrar in Hobart and to have the registrar go to Melbourne. Next thing, they will be closing the registry—that requires simply a change of legislation—and I do not think that process should be encouraged at all. This is the opportunity to save the registrar’s position in Hobart. I hope the coalition will again come to support this.