Stephen Conroy (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Leader of the Government in the Senate) Share this | Hansard source

As I said, this has really been the toughest call in this debate. I am very conscious of the argument of Senator Ludlam, and more importantly the arguments that have convinced Senator Ludlam to move down this path. As I said in my earlier contribution, we will be watching this closely. We will be having conversations with the ACCC and we will be continuing to maintain a close dialogue with those in the industry. While some of these issues are commercially sensitive and cannot be revealed publicly I have always been able to have frank private conversations with the players in the industry on these types of issues.

I probably will not have a formalised process because it is hard to have discussions in a formal public way about issues that are commercial. I will welcome the ongoing scrutiny by the ACCC and I will be liaising with the ACCC. I am sure, Senator Xenophon, you will also be maintaining a weather eye on this so that you can keep me well informed. I have, as I said, many people in the industry keeping me continually updated on these sorts of matters and I will be monitoring this closely.

Question put:

That the amendment (Senator Ludlam’s) be agreed to.