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

I don't think I did say 'other information from the High Court'. What I think I said was 'other drafting principles'. Obviously, when legislation is prepared, whether it be on this or any other matter, we don't just take into account a particular decision or particular reasons of the High Court. As you would understand, there are general drafting principles and there is a whole body of constitutional law that goes to what parliaments can and can't legislate on. Those matters have been taken into account to the best of our ability, while recognising that in the absence of the reasons from the High Court there remains a degree of uncertainty. As I say, we don't think that that uncertainty should mean that the parliament does nothing.