Christine Milne (Tasmania, Australian Greens) Share this | Hansard source

by leave—As the deputy chair of this committee, I wish to note that Senator Heffernan did not discuss this proposed reference to the committee. There have been several discussions on the committee since 2002 on this issue, not least of which was a one-hour private briefing on this matter yesterday, as it is a sensitive issue and it is before the WTO. I just want to say that the Senate is already overworked, with a number of committees, and I find it difficult to see how this particular inquiry is going to advance the cause of the current circumstances. I do not object to it coming to the committee but I think the Senate needs to consider just how many of these references we make and the time that is involved for the potential outcome of these inquiries.

Question agreed to.