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

I understand the passion the Greens bring to this debate. I recognise and respect it. We do not agree with the Greens amendment to our amendment. We think our amendment provides a much better service. It provides for collaborative circumstances. It allows the work to be dealt with cooperatively with the professions. I do, though, acknowledge that all parties underpin the need for collaboration. However, the Greens position is not one the government can agree with. We have always been clear about the fact that these arrangements will need to be provided collaboratively with other health professionals, and our amendments do just that. Although I can say that I do recognise where the Greens are coming from in this debate, it is just a bit further than where the government currently thinks the balance properly sits.