Joe Ludwig (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Manager of Government Business in the Senate) Share this | Hansard source

by leave—I think it is misplaced to move such a motion. We have already indicated that we take the matter seriously, unlike the opposition did when they were in government previously. We have indicated that we have answered a range of those today. What Senator Ronaldson has not been able to do is go through and detect which ones have been answered. He also has not taken into consideration that there are a range of matters that are in train and will be answered shortly. The questions that the government is working on are complex, and many of them are quite large.

I think the motion is premature. I am sure that within a short time Senator Ronaldson may want to consider moving that motion again. At this juncture I submit that it is a little pre-emptory and it should not be moved at this point. If he was minded to move it at another point, it is always the case that we are very loath to deny people leave. We think that sufficient time has been provided for this debate so far. We know that we will also have another debate about this issue. In this instance I think that it is a bit premature and, through you, Mr Deputy President, I would ask Senator Ronaldson to reconsider it. After summing up his questions that have been answered—and looking at the ones that have been transferred and also the ones that may come in within the next couple of days—he may want to consider moving the motion again, but at this point in time I am not minded to provide leave for his proposed motion.