Nick Sherry (Tasmania, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Superannuation and Corporate Law) Share this | Hansard source

We will not be adjourning the debate on the legislation, Senator Fielding, for the obvious reason that, as I have indicated, there is a consultation period of at least six months to go on the regulations. We will put the bills, they will be defeated and there will be a period of uncertainty. I am not happy with it, but that is your decision, and obviously the decision of the Liberal-National Party, now opposition. I would point out that the process of consideration of a levy bill and then the development of regulations through very intensive consultation is not new. This is not a new approach we are going through in this particular area. But the Liberal-National Party have decided to abandon this approach after some 20 years of bipartisan support, including from the Labor Party as opposition. Now, of course, they are in opposition and are taking a somewhat opportunistic approach. We will put the bills to the vote. It seems to me they will be defeated and we will see what we come up with in the months or possibly years ahead. If there is an outbreak and we are not in a position to respond, we are not in a position to respond.