MARK DREYFUS
SHADOW ATTORNEY-GENERAL
SHADOW MINISTER FOR CONSTITUTIONAL REFORM
MEMBER FOR ISAACS
RELIGIOUS DISCRIMINATION BILL REQUIRES PROPER INQUIRY
The Morrison-Joyce Government must abandon its attempts to force the establishment of a rushed and inadequate Senate inquiry into its Religious Discrimination Bill.
The Morrison-Joyce Government today tried to ambush the Senate – including Senators from their own Party – with its proposal for a snap Senate inquiry, ignoring Labor’s calls for a Joint Select Committee process.
The Government is demanding Members of the House of Representatives vote on this complex and important legislation before they have had an opportunity to consider the bill carefully or consult with their constituents, and before the bill has been reviewed by a parliamentary committee.
This makes it particularly important that the Morrison-Joyce Government support the establishment of a Joint Select Committee, so that the Australian people and all of their representatives in the Parliament – Senators and Members of the House of Representatives – can participate in the parliamentary inquiry process.
Labor repeats our call for the Government to work with Labor on this important bill and agree to a genuine inquiry involving both MPs and Senators so that this important legislation receives the consideration it deserves.
THURSDAY, 25 NOVEMBER 2021
