Kim Carr (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Housing and Urban Development) Share this | Hansard source

This is a simple proposition. I would have thought it would be appropriate for the Government Whip to advise our whip that the minister is going to make a statement, whether or not it was originally in response to a return to order moved by Senator Brown or any other senator. Frankly, if the minister is going to make a ministerial statement the opposition is entitled to know that it is coming on. You basically tried to ambush us and that is what I say to you: this is a matter of deceit.