Ian Macdonald (Queensland, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

Senator McKim is flagging a referral to the Legal and Constitutional Affairs References Committee. I do not think he said it here, but I am told by others—I did not see it—that he was talking about having the committee meet this week and report by the end of this week. I am not sure if that is what his intention is, but could I simply advise the Senate that that committee, of which I am only the deputy chair, is one that has a number of inquiries going. If there is any suggestion that it be this week, I would venture to say—and I can only speak for myself—that I certainly will not be attending. I suspect my other coalition colleague on this committee is also totally engaged in other matters, including matters in this chamber as well as other important committee matters, so it will end up being a Labor-Greens committee, which of course will have even less relevance and less authority than this committee usually has. I am just indicating that to Senator McKim. If that is his intention, then it will be a Labor-Greens thing, which will have no relevance, no standing, no reliability.

Opposition senators interjecting—