Scott Ludlam (WA, Australian Greens) Share this | Hansard source

I do not know whether Senator Johnston has anything to add in response to that, but I indicate at this point that the Greens will be supporting this amendment. I have given the opposition a pretty hard time on enabling the government to carry forward some of the procedural obscenities that accompanied this bill, but I will acknowledge the coalition for bringing this amendment forward. As I said in my earlier remarks, it is not the way that the Australian Greens amendment chose to deal with this issue. But it is a substantive amendment. It is also an attempt at a substantive fix, and I think the opposition should be congratulated for bringing it forward.

I would be very interested to get Senator Feeney's read on what will happen if this passes the House and actually becomes law. I think it certainly marks a major improvement on the drafting of the bill as it stands. I wish the Australian Greens amendment had carried, but, nonetheless, I am very happy to support the opposition's drafting.