Jacinta Collins (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Cabinet Secretary) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Attorney-General, Senator Brandis. I refer to Mr Thawley's request at 5.30 pm on Monday, 1 June that the misleading Monis evidence be corrected. If Mr Thawley had no doubt the evidence needed to be corrected, why did the Attorney-General express so-called doubts about the earlier evidence and take a full parliamentary week to correct the record?

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

Because the secretary of his department looked into it.

Jacinta Collins (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Cabinet Secretary) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Well, that's a worry. So the agency's the patsy again, is it?

Stephen Parry (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

On my left! You have asked your question, Senator Collins.

George Brandis (Queensland, Liberal Party, Attorney-General) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I immediately corrected the record when I was satisfied—when it had been confirmed to me, as a result of the inquiry that I commissioned, that an error had been made.

Jacinta Collins (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Cabinet Secretary) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, I ask a supplementary question. I refer to the Attorney-General's statement that the foreign minister was advised shortly before question time on Thursday, 4 June about the incorrect evidence provided by his department. I also refer to the foreign minister's statement that she was advised at 2.43 pm that day, well after question time had begun. Which minister got it right, and who should now correct the record again?

George Brandis (Queensland, Liberal Party, Attorney-General) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I believe that the foreign minister was herself advised during the course of question time, which is what she said. Her office was advised shortly before question time.

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

This is a point of order on relevance, Mr President. The question in relation to the Attorney-General's statement concerned a statement to the parliament he made that the foreign minister, not her office, was advised before question time. If he wants to clarify and correct the record now, he should do so.

Stephen Parry (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you, Senator Wong. I believe the minister has concluded his answer. He has. There is no point of order. Senator Collins, do you have a final supplementary question?

Jacinta Collins (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Cabinet Secretary) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, I ask a further supplementary question.

Senator Ian Macdonald interjecting—

You cannot bully senators in here, Senator Macdonald.

Stephen Parry (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order on both sides! Senator Collins you have the call.

Jacinta Collins (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Cabinet Secretary) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you, Mr President.

Honourable senators interjecting—

Stephen Parry (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order on both sides! We will start the clock again, Senator Collins.

Jacinta Collins (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Cabinet Secretary) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My supplementary question is: did the Attorney-General's office or the Prime Minister's office provide any indication to the foreign minister or her office—to be clear for Senator Brandis—that she had misled the parliament before the Attorney-General made his belated call on Thursday, 4 June?

George Brandis (Queensland, Liberal Party, Attorney-General) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I do not believe so, Senator, but I will check.

Opposition Senators:

Opposition senators interjecting—

Stephen Parry (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order on my left!