Peter Whish-Wilson (Tasmania, Australian Greens) Share this | Hansard source

Minister, that report was a long time ago. I was on that committee with Senator Dastyari when the report was finally released. We're talking about many, many years. There's been no attempt to address it at all. But thank you for saying that you will address it. I'll take you at your word on that. But my question—and it's very important for you now to explain to the Senate and anyone who may be listening to this debate—is: in your understanding, please, what is the public policy purpose of having grandfathered exemptions that were in place in 1995 and were designed to be temporary, as Senator Patrick outlined? Indeed, it was Mr John Howard who kept them in place deliberately, as a policy decision. So, it's your government that kept them in place. Can you explain to the Senate the policy purpose of having those exemptions and why you believe they should stay in place and why you're going to vote against them today?