I'm obviously not in a position to speak to what Cabinet discussed, but parliamentary committees heard other options. Specifically, there was talk about a broader exception for humanitarian assistance and the subjects to cover. That idea was put on the table. There were several academics who argued that nothing was necessary and that there were other non-legislative options to put forward.
I can therefore say that there were several options, including those suggested to the government by the public. In the end, the government had to choose between the selected option and a very broad and flexible exception. However, there was no assurance for the individuals applying or for third parties, such as a financial institution, to know if they were exempt from the legislation or if they had to stay with what is currently in place. That means taking into account the risk of criminal prosecution, including whether or not there have been any prosecutions to date.