Murray Watt (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry) Share this | Hansard source

TT (—) (): Thanks, Senator Cash, for your amendment. We did discuss this earlier in the day, but just to put the government's position on the record: we will not be supporting this amendment. The consequential bill provides that decisions relating to the commencement of an investigation or inquiry, and intermediary or procedural steps by the commission on the way to reaching its findings, would not be subject to judicial review. This is appropriate, to ensure that the commission's statutory functions are not undermined and delayed as a result of lengthy litigation at each interlocutory step of an investigation, and that investigations and inquiries can be conducted in a timely manner. A person may still seek judicial review of these intermediary or procedural decisions under the Judiciary Act 1903, or in the High Court's original jurisdiction. The government, as I said, does not support this amendment.