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

Senator Siewert makes the point they have reordered things—well, the reordering will have the effect of removing the deleterious effects for those seeking IVF treatment, and that is a better outcome from my point of view.

I support the opposition’s amendment. Simply trusting the government in terms of the regulations is not satisfactory. That practice undermines the important role of the Senate and I think it is sensible to resist the trend towards it, in particular in relation to this legislation. The key to the legislation is what the rebate will be for certain forms of treatment. I do not think leaving it up to regulation is desirable in this case. I note Senator Siewert says this is not a precedent, and I accept that, but I think we need to be very careful about the extent to which we give away the details of legislation in regulation when they go to the core of the issue.