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

There is always a distinction between provisions that are in place and whether those provisions are actually observed. I am not going to trample on the ground of whether the provisions that existed at the time were or were not observed because if we knew the answers to that, or thought that we were fully acquainted with all the information, there would be no need for us to be debating this legislation for an inquiry to be conducted by Mr Ian Callinan QC. They are the matters that are best left for Mr Callinan to inquire into and then advise us of what his determination is as to whether the procedures were in fact observed or not.