David Leyonhjelm (NSW, Liberal Democratic Party) Share this | Hansard source

I move Liberal Democratic Party amendment (8) on sheet 7661:

(8) Schedule 1, item 1, page 21 (after line 31), after section 187N, insert:

187NA Sunset provision

     This Part (other than section 187N) ceases to be in force at the end of the third anniversary of the implementation phase for this Part.

The rationale for this amendment is to provide the opportunity for more widespread and more public debate and review, particularly in light of the fact that the PJCIS includes no members of the crossbench or Greens. To that end, this amendment carves out from the sunset the bill's review of operation provision section 187(9) by the PJCIS but ensures that if the bill sunsets and comes to be re-enacted, it will be debated by all of us in this place. It is also Liberal Democratic Party policy that, if draconian laws are to be enacted, they be sunsetted. It is part of the liberal tradition that fewer, better-drafted laws be enacted. Forcing parliaments to revisit earlier bad law goes some way towards achieving this, if only by reminding parliament not to produce rubbish laws in the first place.