Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Hansard source

If it is the religious discrimination act—and I assume, given previous discussions, it is—the advice I have is this. Obviously there's been a long discussion on religious discrimination. Since 2016, there have been 10 inquiries, over 260 hearings and consultations, and 70,000 submissions. I understand that there have been targeted and confidential consultations, which is not an unusual process. The advice I have in the brief that I've been provided with is that no stakeholder has been asked to sign an NDA in relation to the religious discrimination bill. No stakeholder has been asked to sign a non-disclosure agreement. If I'm incorrect on that and on the advice I've received, I'll certainly come back to the chamber.

This is a difficult bill. As you know, it has had a long period of discussion. These matters were raised by Prime Minister Turnbull, I think, originally and then by Prime Minister Morrison as well. We are conscious of the importance, on something such as religious discrimination, of trying to engage in this discussion in a way which is respectful and in which we seek to bring Australians together.