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

The government's response is that we will support amendment (8) on sheet 8143. In the first instance, the bill does apply the same level of culpability to both sides of a corrupting transaction, and the same penalties apply to both sides. The bill was drafted to use both the terms 'influence' and 'tend to influence'. There is no material difference between the two offences, and both involve the same kind of intention on the part of the defendant. However, for the benefit of the opposition, who have requested the clarification and that the same wording is used throughout the offence, the government is more than happy to support the amendment.