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

The minister has stated in relation to this that there are some risk management guidelines used by Australia and New Zealand for these matters that the government says would deal with the issues that are the subject of this amendment which the government says will deal with them adequately. I cannot test that. I cannot compare what is contained in those guide­lines with what is contained in this amend­ment. I wonder whether the government would have this amendment deferred until those risk management guidelines have been obtained. If the government is not so inclined to do so, it leaves me with no choice but to go to a vote, but I would have thought that may be relevant for the debate in relation to this particular subclause. It is an invitation to the government; whether the government accepts it is another matter. I am concerned that the risk management guidelines are not readily available. I note the government is being quite open that it will make them available at relatively short notice. I appreciate that, but I just wonder whether it would be prudent for this amendment to be dealt with after those risk management guidelines are provided.

The TEMPORARY CHAIRMAN: I am going to call the minister, but I remind Senator Xenophon that would be a matter for the Senate chamber to determine.