Mathias Cormann (WA, Liberal Party, Minister for Finance) Share this | Hansard source

It has been on the Notice Paper since 10 July, Senator, and it was voted it down. And then it was put on the Notice Paper again on 17 July—and it was voted down. And then for technical reasons, the Senate Standing Committee on Regulations and Ordinances put it on the Notice Paper in order to scrutinise various aspects of it. We provided a satisfactory response, and the regulations and ordinances committee decided to remove the disallowance. And Senator Dastyari, using a procedure of the Senate, moved to give himself a third crack at the same disallowance. This has actually been voted on twice before. The Senate has supported our improvements twice before. There was a reasonable expectation across the Australian community that the law which has been the law for nearly five months now was going to be the law that stands. To change that without any notice like this, in the fashion that is proposed, and without the amendment that I have moved to the motion, would be highly irresponsible. It would be highly reckless. I strongly urge the Senate to support the amendment that I have moved to Senator Moore's motion.