Cory Bernardi (SA, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

Senator Farrell, I accept your interjection. Madam Acting Deputy President, Senator Farrell is interjecting and suggesting I should vote for this. My mind is open, absolutely open, and I do want to support a bill similar to this. But when a cavalier approach is taken to producing ideas and putting them into the legislation—and I do not blame the drafting clerks for this; they can only work with the information they have been given—and when consultation has not taken place and when the bill is actually flawed, it makes it difficult to fix. I think it is right for the government, with the resources at their disposal, to produce a bill that will, I am sure, satisfy the intent of Senator Farrell and the Labor Party and also fix the holes in it. I am sure Senator Farrell will welcome a government bill, when it comes to that, because it will be more complete.

It is important—and I come back to it—from South Australia's point of view, that we open up the Woomera Prohibited Area to new users. We have not closed it off entirely; there is no question about that. I went through the exploration deeds and the mining deeds, and I have talked about how important it is from South Australia's perspective.

I must say I am very impressed with the Defence minister, Senator Johnston, because he has encouraged Defence to continue to consult with different stakeholders. I am advised that Defence met with rail companies in August of last year, just before the change of government, to discuss range administration. The parties agreed that the rail operator is an existing user—which I think is important—inclusive of all associated infrastructure. They also agreed to develop a working-level agreement covering consultation and notification arrangements. So Defence is capable of reaching broad agreements. But there are many people and stakeholders in this that need to be discussed, met with and dealt with. I am pleased that the Australian Rail Track Corporation, which is perhaps one of the most significant stakeholders, wrote to confirm the understanding reached. They stated they can work with Defence to identify windows that minimise disruption to the rail operator's business. That is a great step between commercial operators and one of Australia's largest government departments.

Further to that, Defence in September last year met with representatives of the South Australian Department for Manufacturing, Innovation, Trade, Resources and Energy, and Defence SA, to discuss matters including pastoral leases in the Woomera prohibited area and the consultation process. So the consultation process is ongoing. It is premature for Senator Farrell to bring this bill to this parliament, particularly as his government opposed this bill so many times and stood in the way of it. But I have an open mind—(Time expired)