Mr. Gerry Liston:

To answer the Senator's first question about the Attorney General's opinion, the Attorney General's existing opinion is very favourable. It was mischaracterised yesterday because the opinion we have is on the occupied territories Bill. The key quote from the opinion is that it may be open to a state to argue that the offences under the occupied territories Bill, which includes prohibitions on goods and services, are necessary to uphold respect for a rule of law, human rights, etc. - all the issues that are relevant to public policy. The Attorney General is being asked to confirm what he has already said. I cannot imagine that he is going to do anything other than confirm that.

I ask the members to not take my opinion but take the opinion of the real experts on EU law. We have deliberately gone to some of the leading experts out there. These are people who have no affiliation to any campaign and are purely concerned with the correct application of the law. They have said we have the power. As to the risks of passing a Bill without services, it would clearly undermine the position that the ICJ has taken, that is, that states must go much further than banning, not even goods and services but all trade and investment links and economic links between a state and the illegal settlements.