George Brandis (Queensland, Liberal Party, Attorney-General) Share this | Hansard source

The government has taken this bill through a very, very long process, through what is bound to be a long committee stage here in the Senate yesterday and today and perhaps tomorrow, and through a very long PJCIS inquiry, in which I think you would acknowledge we have shown a great deal of flexibility in accepting recommendations made by that committee—in fact, we have accepted them all. The government is satisfied with the bill in its ultimate form. The opposition is satisfied with the bill in its ultimate form. All I can say to you is that the bill in the form in which it is now presented to the Senate is in our judgement the best shape in which the bill can be drafted.