Jacqui Lambie (Tasmania, Independent) Share this | Hansard source

We can go into the time because this is what's taking out veterans, yet you still want your 90 days. But I would like you to answer the question. We simply want the Productivity Commission to go inside the Department of Veterans' Affairs, put all of the acts together and make them into one. That is what we are asking. Why does the minister need to approve or not approve that? It's a pretty simple step. I'm simply asking you: why are we making these changes that simply do not need to be made until all of these recommendations have been dealt with, especially the Productivity Commission one? Let them go in there and do their job. It's like you're shafting them and saying, 'They're not going to get the job done, so we're going to lambaste you with legislation anyway.' That does not need the minister's approval. That recommendation needs approval, and there's no reason why you couldn't have done that two weeks ago. So why does the minister need to give his approval for this? Why do we need to put through this amendment? Why do we need to put this through when, quite clearly, putting the Productivity Commission into action to streamline those acts does not need approval from the minister?