Fiona O'Malley (Independent)

Senator Norris's suggestion of the use of the word "placement" is good in terms of changing the nature of the language used. I am interested in the principle that a person is branded, tarnished or tarred for life if he or she is tagged as having been in a detention centre or having been detained. I hope the Minister of State will be sympathetic to the proposed change in the language used. However, I understand that there might be a difficulty in changing the wording because of the nature of the Bill and if one has gone through a court procedure, the existing wording may be related to, for want of a better term, other legal jargon. Therefore, this proposal may present a difficulty. The proposed word "placement" offers a neutral a space for people with complications in their lives and it is not a term like "detention" with which they will be tarred or branded forever. I look forward to hearing the Minister of State's justification for accepting or not accepting the amendment or whether he will consider changing the nature of the language used in the Bill.