Richard Colbeck (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Minister for Tourism and International Education) Share this | Hansard source

Madam Acting Deputy President, on the point of order, our whip's point was circulated—and I will concede it was circulated with adequate time to be able to identify and assess the document. Senator McKim has just said he gave it to us about 15 minutes ago and, because of the concerns that we have about the letter and the time that we have had to assess it given the late hour—it is 20 past 10 in the evening and people who we might want to check it with are not available—in that context we have denied leave. So let's not try and create any conspiracy theory where one does not exist.