National anthem copyright Bill
Senator Daly seeks to have the National Anthem copyright Bill taken that day, criticising the Government for failing to protect the anthem; the Government Whip objects.
Women died because the State knowingly did not act. Did anybody see the consequences? Did anybody suffer other than the women? No, because there is no legislation to cover that situation.
I propose an amendment to the Order of Business: that No. 31 on today's Order Paper, National Anthem (Protection of Copyright and Related Rights) (Amendment) Bill 2016, be taken today. I know my colleague from Kerry, Senator Paul Coghlan, as Government Whip, is not too anxious to introduce protection for the national anthem, even though it has been out of copyright for the past four years.
Comment on this
We had certain undertakings with regard to this Bill, but they have not been fulfilled, and unfortunately the Government has decided in this year of years not to protect the national anthem.