Hon Christopher Finlayson

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.

I think too that we are dealing with very good legislation. Again I heard what Mr Locke said about human rights concerns. I respect that he is a person who has a great passion for human rights and that he is one of the staunchest advocates of human rights in this place, but I have to tell him that last week the United Nations Human Rights Committee commended overall the adoption of the Immigration Act, in its opening statements. That committee has recognised that the Act is a good piece of work.

Equally, I think, it is very important that we get on with implementing that Act it as quickly as we can. The implementation of the changes to immigration made in the Act is a sizable task that is moving full steam ahead. Section 474, which is a very complex section, was included in the Act in order to allow certain implementation work to be done before the rest of the Act comes into force, so the bill will bring that section into force on the day after the Royal assent. I will not go through the detail of the bill, but I say a number of important tasks need to be undertaken, and the sooner we get on to that the better it will be.

I do not intend to waste the time of the House on what everyone acknowledges was a drafting error. I will apologise to the House if it helps to soothe matters, but in any event I am pleased to commend the bill to the House.