Health Minister Mark Butler has firmly rejected accusations that Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has performed a policy backflip, after the government decided to split a major legislative package in a bid to secure its passage through Parliament.
A Strategic Move, Not a Backdown
Appearing on Sunrise on Sunday, Butler explained that the decision to separate the proposed omnibus bill was a direct result of consultations with other parties, aimed at ensuring critical legislation could be passed. The original draft combined a gun buyback scheme, a ban on hate groups, and new racial vilification laws.
"We said when we released this draft bill very early ... we were clear we wanted to hear suggestions from other parties, particularly the Opposition, given they are so critical to getting this through the parliament," Butler stated. "So it’s not a backdown — it’s listening to suggestions from other parties about the best possible way to get these laws through Parliament this week."
Greens Support Triggers Separation
The pivotal moment came when the Greens party confirmed they would only support the firearms legislation component of the package. In response, Prime Minister Albanese moved on Saturday to separate the proposals.
"This is a way in which (the Greens) can vote for the gun laws that they said they would vote," Butler said, strongly defending the firearms reforms. "These gun laws are really important, there is no reason why anyone should oppose these gun laws."
Furthermore, the government has signalled it will remove specific racial vilification offences from the surviving hate speech bill, as they also lacked sufficient crossbench support. "The hate crimes legislation will continue, the racial vilification laws do not have the support of the Senate," Butler confirmed. "That is what the Greens party and the Liberal Party have made clear, so we deal with the Parliament that we have."
A Call for National Unity
The legislation is set for debate on Tuesday during an extraordinary parliamentary sitting week, triggered by the Bondi terrorist attack. Butler framed the upcoming vote as a crucial test for national unity in the wake of what he described as "the worst terror attack in our history."
He issued a direct challenge to Opposition Leader Sussan Ley, who had earlier opposed the omnibus bill as "pretty unsalvageable." "The challenge now for the Parliament — particularly for Sussan Ley — is the subject of national unity, cracking down on hate preachers and hate groups, giving the home affairs minister stronger powers to kick out visa holders if they’re here spreading hate, and (passing) tighter gun control laws," Butler asserted.
Parliament will first observe a condolence motion on Monday for the victims of the December 14 massacre, with the Senate then adjourning as a mark of respect. Butler urged politicians to move beyond partisan politics. "Enough of the politics, enough of the debate about whether the bill should be big or should be separate," he said. "We’ve got a focused challenge for the Parliament this Tuesday, and it’s time Sussan Ley got on board and came together and saw really a moment of national unity, which I think will serve the country enormously well."
