David Norris (Independent)

I support the amendment, which strengthens the protection of whistleblowers. As Senator Bacik said, it is a nuanced view. One could say that having an opinion that "it" has been committed does not require "it" to have been committed. At the same time, this will offer reassurance to people who have a suspicion or an opinion that something may have gone wrong, where the person is not in a position to state objective facts with clarity but believes something sinister is or may be occurring.

As we have got to a situation where there will be time for reflection, I urge the Minister to take the amendment back for reconsideration rather than rejecting it. It is all of a piece with the earlier amendment, as Senator Bacik argued very effectively. This would be a practical way of dealing with this important matter, if it is reserved for further discussion.