Linda Reynolds (WA, Liberal Party, Minister for Defence) Share this | Hansard source

The government will not be supporting either of these amendments, because the measures in this bill will enhance the ability to provide defence assistance to the civil community by doing two things: firstly, by streamlining the process for calling out members of the ADF reserves under sections 28 and 29 of the Defence Act and, secondly, by providing ADF members, other defence personnel and members of foreign forces with similar immunities to state and territory emergency services personnel in certain cases while they are performing duties in good faith to support civil emergency and disaster preparedness, recovery and response. These amendments would take away both of these schedules in the bill. These have been designed to enhance Defence's ability to provide assistance in relation to natural disasters and other emergencies. They would also remove the opportunity to legislate some of the key lessons learned from the 2020-21 bushfires, which would be a significant missed opportunity ahead of the upcoming high-risk weather season. It's for these reasons, amongst many others that we've discussed here tonight, that the government will not be supporting these two amendments.

In closing, I thank the opposition. Senator Wong, I thank you and also Richard Marles and his office for the constructive way in which we've engaged with this to get to this very important legislation.