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

by leave—Can I indicate to the chamber that at approximately noon I will be seeking leave to make a statement in relation to the matter of the Bell liquidation. I should mention that within the last hour I have received a letter from the Leader of the Opposition in the Senate, Senator Wong, foreshadowing a motion to require me to make a statement. It has been my intention, since well before I received Senator Wong's letter, to seek leave to make a statement. Therefore, no such motion is necessary and, in my view, it is not appropriate. However, I had a discussion with Senator Wong and, for reasons that seem satisfactory to her, she has indicated to me that the opposition will nevertheless move the motion requiring me to do that which I had already proposed to do. Given that there is a commonality of view about the desirability of a statement, the government will not oppose that motion.