Eric Abetz (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Minister for Fisheries, Forestry and Conservation) Share this | Hansard source

I repeat the answer given to Senator O’Brien both today and yesterday—and also to Senator Siewert, I think, yesterday. There is an inquiry going on in relation to these matters. Whether certain people investigated properly, did not investigate fully, reported fully or did not, turned a blind eye et cetera, all those matters are being canvassed, as we speak, by the inquiry. It is important for the inquiry to be allowed to undertake its task in an atmosphere without a situation whereby those on the other side in this chamber or other people try to run a concurrent inquiry in the public domain. I suggest to the honourable senator that these sorts of questions may well be appropriate at a future time after the facts have actually been determined by the inquiry.