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

The government opposes this amendment, just as we opposed Senator Cox's request for an amendment to Supply Bill (No. 1). We believe it is contrary to the bipartisan convention that supply legislation ought not to be amended, unduly delayed, procedurally obstructed or rejected. The government opposes this amendment for that reason.

Money bills only assign portions of consolidated revenue by outcome. And separate legislation is then used to give detailed legislative authority for expenditure, consistent with the High Court's Williams decision. An amendment such as this therefore belongs not in a supply bill but in other legislative artefacts.

It is for those reasons that we will not be supporting this amendment.