Helen Polley (Tasmania, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Aged Care) Share this | Hansard source

Labor will not be supporting the amendment moved by Senator Xenophon. It is not a reflection on him. The issue of grooming which Senator Xenophon's amendment goes to is obviously a very serious issue. Labor senators share Senator Xenophon's concerns and would be more than happy to work constructively with him to properly address the issue. However, there has been no consultation or engagement with the opposition on this amendment and no time for the opposition to consider its implications. While we appreciate Senator Xenophon's intentions, we are not in a position to support his amendment without being given enough time to consider the broader implications. The telecommunication-specific provisions in the schedule of the Criminal Code Act are complex and carefully drafted in a way that gives effect not only to the Commonwealth law but also to relevant state and territory law. Any consideration to amend these provisions must be undertaken in consultation with a range of law enforcement agencies and our state and territory counterparts. At such a late hour in the legislative passage of the bill before us, this simply cannot occur. It is for this reason that Labor do not support Senator Xenophon's amendment. But we do support the bill.