Chris Evans (WA, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Government in the Senate) Share this | Hansard source

I am not sure there was a question in that, but certainly the senator has sought to use question time to raise a series of issues that perhaps might have been done better in an adjournment speech or by providing early advice to me so that I could have helped, if he was genuinely after answers, by seeking a brief from Mr Smith. What I would say, though, is that accusing Defence of conducting a whitewash is a fairly strong claim by the opposition Defence spokesman and, given he has had to walk back from a number of his claims and the military advice he has provided in recent times, I suspect he ought to be a little more circumspect. I have no personal understanding but I think it obviously reflects negatively on Defence Force officers. I think he ought to be a little more circumspect, but that is his call.

Mr President, I ask that further questions be placed on the Notice Paper.