David Feeney (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Parliamentary Secretary for Defence) Share this | Hansard source

I suppose, Senator, I would say we have a difference of opinion. I think, as you have said in your remarks, there is broad consensus about the convention, its aims and Australia's support for those aims. There is then a difference of opinion about how we have set about the task of enacting them.

You did warn, as we went into committee stage, that parts of tonight might seem like a re-enactment of estimates and, of course, we have had the discussion there about the interoperability provisions, which I am sure we will revisit shortly. There are obviously points of difference. The government has listened to those points of difference, as of course we have listened to the points made by the Greens. There is simply a difference of opinion about the efficacy of what you are proposing. But it is the government's firm view that these provisions, together with the other measures I have described, ensure that Australia will be upholding that convention in every material respect.