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

Well, it might have been!

Phil Coorey tells us that his understanding of the agreement now is that it has been modified to limit the prospect of a double dissolution election. We all know that it has not done that at all. There remain three Saturdays when a double dissolution can occur, despite the Greens adjusting the implementation time frame.

But they have not even picked up the recommendations of the Australian Electoral Commission. The AEC said that they need at least three months after proclamation. Now, three months after proclamation will not be the end of June. So not only do we have a shoddy deal, a dirty deal and a silly deal but we have a deal represented in this report that will not allow the Australian Electoral Commission to do its job properly.

I appeal to Senator Xenophon, who is also not here. I noticed in Senator Xenophon's response to the committee report that he acknowledged the shoddy process that had occurred in this inquiry. He acknowledged that and he said that the consideration of the bill will occur in a way which will allow the robust debate necessary. Now, I do not know, Senator Xenophon—what I have seen between the Greens and the government this week tells me they will ram it through regardless. There will not be sufficient time to address the things we need to address.

One example of that, which I mentioned earlier today, is the significant change around party political logos. What if you are a political party which has a logo at the moment which you never envisaged would be something that would be on a ballot paper, and you decide that if you want to further your political campaign you really need to change your logo? Will there be sufficient time for that? We have no idea. No idea at all, because this is the dirty deal stitched up between the Greens and the government to further their own interests.

I disagree with Senator Cameron—this is not pale green; this is green of every complexion, led by Senator Rhiannon— (Time expired)