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

I thank the senator for his question. In the Senate on 10 October 2012, the government circulated proposed amendments to the legislation and we believe those amendments fully reflect the outcomes of the Chief Scientist's roundtable.

Specifically concerning the transition period, the offence provisions relating to the bill's strengthened export control provisions will not take immediate effect, rather there will be a transition period of up to 24 months. We believe this will enable all relevant sectors to become familiar with their obligations under the bill.