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

I think, as you have heard tonight from Senator Marshall and Senator Singh, that there is no shortage of passionate advocates in the government party room for this legislation and the effect that it will bring about. So ultimately my answer to you, Senator, is that the government come here now, with a bill which we believe is, as I said at the outset, the centrepiece of Australia keeping faith with this convention—a convention that is strongly supported by the government—and I fear that your course of action would ultimately represent delay, and what we are interested in doing is having this legislation pass the parliament and for its very important work to commence as quickly as practicable.