Michaelia Cash (WA, Liberal Party, Minister for Women) Share this | Hansard source

I thank Senator Muir for moving the amendment on behalf of his crossbench colleagues. The amendment that is currently before the Senate amends the proposed new optional greenfields agreement-making procedure by extending the duration of the negotiation period from three months to six months. Again the government is committed to ensuring that greenfields agreements are made in a timely manner, and of course Australians would understand that this is essential if Australia is to attract investment in major projects into the future.

The government is mindful of the views of the members of the crossbench. In this regard we have taken into account their concerns in relation to the three-month period. As such the government supports the amendment proposed by members of the crossbench to extend the new optional greenfields agreement-making time frame from three months to six months.