Don Farrell (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Trade and Tourism) Share this | Hansard source

I thank Senator Pocock for his question and for the advance notice that he was able to give us of that question. We very much appreciate your engagement with this bill, but, unfortunately, the government does not agree that a statutory review of this bill is necessary and it will not be supporting the amendment.

The nature of our court system is that the new cost regime, once it is in place, will be under constant scrutiny and review. If there are unintended consequences or problems, that will become clear through jurisprudence. The Attorney-General's Department will also be monitoring the operation of the new costs regime as a matter of course; however, the Attorney-General is willing to give an undertaking that a review of the operation of the new costs regime will be undertaken three years after its commencement, with a focus on any unintended consequences. The Attorney-General will write to you, Senator Pocock, to affirm this undertaking.