Peter Whish-Wilson (Tasmania, Australian Greens) Share this | Hansard source

My question is to the foreign minister, Senator Payne. As I understand it, you're the senior minister overseeing the work of Senator Ruston, who represented Australia at the International Whaling Commission meeting. Minister, there's still intense lobbying and negotiations going on at the IWC meeting in Brazil at the moment. Can you explain why Assistant Minister Ruston has returned from Brazil and is not at these meetings? Is it because you're confident—