Mary Henry (Independent)

I regret that we got off to such a bad start with Report Stage. I fully expected to come in this morning and find that the Government had put down amendments to the Bill. The Minister was not in a position to hear the views of the high-level review group or the commissioner who addressed the Joint Committee on Finance and the Public Service, although I am sure he has read what they said. I assure him that they were extremely impressive.

It is unfortunate that we are not trying to make some progress with the Bill by accepting, for example, the amendment before us – tabled by me, Senator O'Toole and others – particularly in view of the fact that it only suggests that it would be better if we kept in line with the Interpretation Act 1937, regarding a definition, rather than proposing something novel. I regret that these amendments do not seem to find favour.

One good thing which has come out of the debate is that more people know about the Office of the Information Commissioner. One group of people who had problems with what they felt were repeated and sometimes vexatious requests had sought legal advice in the past, whereas they could have just referred these requests to the office of the commissioner who performs a very valuable service for all of us.

The question in regard to persons is only a matter of clarification. Perhaps I am being pessimistic in thinking the Minister will not accept the amendments.