Kim Carr (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research) Share this | Hansard source

Thank you very much, Mr Temporary Chairman. Senator Cormann issued a press release yesterday regarding this legislation, so it is not surprising that the Deputy Prime Minister’s office sought further clarification. We were told, this time from the coalition whip at a meeting this morning, that in fact now Senator Cormann was going to have to deal with the bill. You want to lecture us on the management of these matters and you cannot even manage your frontbench. If there was ever an old saying that has truth, it is, ‘If you can’t run your own party, you can’t run the government.’ This is a group of extremists that are now seeking to take control of the treasury bench in this country. Let’s get real, Senator Cormann—you know nothing about it and you are going to have to do a damn sight better if you are going to play these sorts of games.

Let me deal with your second amendment before you move it so we do not waste any more time. The proposed amendments were put forward to require providers to use education agents who have completed the education agents training course and who have belonged to a professional body, where one exists. In our view that is more appropriately and more flexibly dealt with in regulations. I note that the Deputy Prime Minister has already given undertakings to consult with stakeholders on regulatory changes regarding agents and agents training and professional associations that are still developing. These regulations will allow greater flexibility for making adjustments to the policy over time. The fact is that this industry is too important to play around with. That is a position I have maintained throughout my time in this place. I would ask senators yet again: this is an opportunity to deal with this quickly. If amendments are carried to this legislation it will have to go back to the House and there will be still further delay on the passage of this important bill.