Maurice Hayes (Independent)

As a director of Independent Newspapers and writer, I have an interest to declare in this matter, and I make such declarations ritually. We have focused on this issue each day we have discussed the Bill and I can only conclude that the intention is not to make progress on Committee Stage. I agree with the Minister that the purpose of this section was to encourage newspapers to offer apologies and, in doing so, to satisfy those people who find them acceptable. This would keep many cases from the courts that would have otherwise have been there, and people not satisfied with an apology could still go to the courts.

I share many of Senator Norris's views on the inelegance of the drafting of Bills that come before us but I think adding the word "automatically" in this case would define it out of existence.