Administrative Review Tribunal (Miscellaneous Measures) Bill 2024
Senator SCARR (Queensland) (13:21): I acknowledge Senator Shoebridge for that contribution, as I acknowledged, when I originally raised the issue, Senator McKim's concern that a registry be maintained in the state of Tasmania. From my reading of the legislation and from the answers which have been given by the minister, who correctly, I should say, referred to the current Administrative Review Tribunal Act, it's up to the CEO as to whether or not a registry remains, for example, in Tasmania.
The CEO could change their mind and say, 'I've decided, for efficiency purposes, I'm going to close the registry in Tasmania.' It's completely unacceptable that a chief executive officer of the Administrative Review Tribunal should have the discretion to close a registry in any of our states or territories. It is incredibly important that those registries are maintained in every state and territory across Australia.
I am happy for us to proceed with the question on the government's amendments but I would ask that we deal with one of the items separately, namely amendment (4). The TEMPORARY CHAIR ( Senator Hughes ): Senator Scarr—just for the ease of the chamber—you're happy for amendments (1) to (3) and (5) to (7) to be moved together and amendment (4) to be put separately?
Senator SCARR: Correct. The TEMPORARY CHAIR: The question before the chamber at the moment is that the amendments be agreed to. We'll do amendments (1) to (3) and (5) to (7) first.
A division having been called and the bells being rung— Senator Scarr: We're happy to support amendments (1) to (3) and (5) to (7), so I think the division could be cancelled. The TEMPORARY CHAIR: So the division is cancelled—sorry, Senator Shoebridge? Senator Shoebridge: I thought the coalition was supporting this.
The TEMPORARY CHAIR: Yes, so we're happy to cancel the division? Senator Scarr: It's item (4) we're opposing. The TEMPORARY CHAIR: Cancel the division, and we'll try that again.
The question before the chamber is that amendments (1) to (3) and (5) to (7) on sheet GF100 be agreed to. Question agreed to. The CHAIR: The question before the committee is from sheet GF100 and is amendment (4), and the question is that that amendment be agreed to.