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

by leave—I indicate that the opposition will be opposing this postponement. It is an unusual step to be opposing a postponement, but in this case the opposition is of the view that it is warranted. The short title of the bill, for senators' information, is the Introduction of Plebiscite (Restricting Non-European Migration) Bill 2018. That is all the Senate needs to know about this bill. The difficulty with allowing the postponement is that it would then sit on the papers of the Senate until we return on 12 November. This is our concern with allowing the postponement. We shouldn't allow a matter of this character to sit on the papers and for people looking at the business of the Senate to misunderstand the view of the Senate.

As Senator Cormann indicated, the government and, most certainly, the opposition do not support the sentiments reflected in this bill. Australia left behind the White Australia policy 50 years ago, and it should remain well in the past. Labor will always support a non-discriminatory immigration policy and recognise the rich contribution migrants from all nations have made to our multicultural country. We welcome other parties taking this same approach.