Katy Gallagher (ACT, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Finance) Share this | Hansard source

The opposition doesn't have a problem with the amendment the government has moved on the Autonomous Sanctions Amendment (Thematic Sanctions) Bill 2021, but we do have an issue in respect of the Religious Discrimination Bill 2021. Our preference would be that this matter go before a joint select committee, but I am advised I cannot move an amendment to that effect in this part of the program. We do believe that on a bill like this, on an issue that has attracted interest from a number of different stakeholders, it would be good if the parliament dealt with this across both chambers, with people from both chambers being able to participate in that inquiry. That would be our preference.

I'm reading the room that perhaps the government has the numbers for this, but a reporting date of 1 February really doesn't show any genuine interest at all in having a genuine inquiry into this report or the ability for stakeholders to participate in an inquiry like that. It's essentially saying, 'Yes, we will conduct an inquiry, but it will be held only over the Christmas holidays, after a year like this.'

I think it shows a lack of seriousness from the government about dealing with this in a way that brings people together, which is our preference. We notice from the way the government has chosen to conduct the discussions around the preparation of this bill that they haven't reached across the chambers to other parties in this place. They haven't invited people to the table to assist with the drafting and we didn't have a copy of it until it was released publicly, and that was after three or four days of media speculation and briefing out to the media about what was in it and what wasn't in it. I think that from our point of view there's a lack of genuineness from the government about dealing with this in a way that's in the national interest as opposed to some political interests. The reporting date—seriously—also supports my view on that: 1 February really isn't long enough for a suitable inquiry into this matter.