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Hon CHRISTOPHER FINLAYSON (Attorney-General) on behalf of the Minister of Immigration: I move, That the Immigration Act 2009 Amendment Bill be now read a first time. The Minister, the Hon Jonathan Coleman, is not here tonight because he and his wife have just had a child, and that is a cause of great celebration. But I will not talk about squawking children too much, because I certainly do not want to upset Mr Chauvel.
 
 
Hon CHRISTOPHER FINLAYSON (Attorney-General) : I would not want honourable members to think I have an unhealthy obsession with the machinery provisions of bills, but I thought Mr Cosgrove made a very helpful contribution. He identified exactly what the problem was in the legislation, which is what happens, perhaps, when we have overly prescriptive provisions in transitional arrangements or commencement clauses.
 
 
Hon CHRISTOPHER FINLAYSON (Attorney-General) on behalf of the Minister of Immigration: I move, That the Immigration Act 2009 Amendment Bill be now read a second time. In the first reading speeches I thought there were a number of helpful contributions. Perhaps I can be indulged to say I heard what Mr Cosgrove said about the omission. It is a matter that I myself have raised, and it could well be that this kind of drafting of commencement clauses needs to be revisited. As I have said, I heard what Mr Cosgrove said, but at the end of the day, as Alan Martin said—and Mr Cosgrove is a Cantabrian, so he may not know about L V Martin—it is the putting right that counts. I think that is important to acknowledge.
 
 
Hon CHRISTOPHER FINLAYSON (Attorney-General) on behalf of the Minister of Immigration: I move, That the Immigration Act 2009 Amendment Bill be now read a third time. Once again, I thank honourable members for their generosity of spirit in facilitating the expeditious passage of this bill.