Mathias Cormann (WA, Liberal Party, Vice-President of the Executive Council) Share this | Hansard source

I have just a very brief contribution. Firstly, the government of course will not be supporting this suspension motion. We think it's important that we get on with the important business of the government—namely, to legislate the government's plan to deliver a fairer share of the GST to Western Australia in a way that leaves every other state in Australia better off. That is an important item of business that the Senate should be dealing with forthwith. But, given some of the statements that have been made by Senator Rice and now also by Senator Farrell, I thought I would again put on the record that, as the Prime Minister announced some weeks ago, the government is committed to moving amendments to the Sex Discrimination Act 1984 to ensure no student of a non-state school can be expelled on the basis of their sexuality. We did engage in consultations with the opposition, through the shadow Attorney-General, to reach a relevant consensus in relation to these matters.

As I advised the chamber on behalf of the Prime Minister during the last sitting fortnight, subject to agreement between the government and the opposition in relation to our proposed amendments, we would be in a position to introduce those amendments as soon as possible during the most recent sitting fortnight. The government stands ready. But the Labor Party has not been prepared to come onboard with the very sensible amendments, consistent with what the Prime Minister has publicly indicated we would do. We remain available, in the first instance, where there is broad consensus, to make improvements to the relevant legislation. We can have a longer conversation in relation to the matters where there is a diversity of views. That is the government's position. We encourage all senators of goodwill to come together and move forward in relation to the areas of reform where there is a broad consensus—namely, ensuring that no student of a non-state school can be expelled on the basis of their sexuality—and then we will leave other matters for the broader processes that have been flagged by others.