Jacinta Collins (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Cabinet Secretary) Share this | Hansard source

As we seem to be moving towards the first set of amendments, I might indicate the Labor position on this matter. These amendments would remove the capacity to modify the dataset by regulation. Presently, the bill allows for such modifications on a temporary basis. As we have been discussing, regulations altering the dataset will cease to have effect after the 40 sitting days. Any permanent alteration must be achieved by amendment of the act, and the bill requires that any such amendment goes first to the PJCIS for review.

I note that those arrangements are the result of the committee's report and were insisted upon by Labor. The government's original bill allowed the entire dataset to be determined by regulation. Labor agrees that as much as possible the detail of the scheme should be set out in the primary legislation. We think this has been achieved and therefore we will be opposing these amendments.