George Brandis (Queensland, Liberal Party, Attorney-General) Share this | Hansard source

I might just respond to Senator Wright's remark that the government amendments have been circulated late in the piece. Senator Wright, the committee stage of this debate began at about 8 o'clock this evening. The government's amendments were circulated at lunch time. It is not late in the piece for amendments to be circulated some hours before the committee stage of debate comes on. But, more importantly, the government announced its decision to accept the recommendations of the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security last Wednesday.

So the government's intentions in relation to this, as in relation to all the other matters before the committee this evening, have been known for nearly a week. That is hardly late in the piece.