Mathias Cormann (WA, Liberal Party, Vice-President of the Executive Council) Share this | Hansard source

Our government takes ministerial accountability and responsibility very seriously—very seriously indeed. Senator Colbeck has been answering questions all week. I think he's fielded every Labor question in the chamber this week. He has done his absolute best to provide the information that was sought of him. He is dealing with a very difficult challenge and a very difficult circumstance.

In Victoria—in Melbourne, I should say—there is a very significant outbreak of a terrible virus. There is a significant increase in infections, which inevitably, sadly, exposes those most vulnerable in the community the most. That sadly includes residents in aged-care facilities. Of course we all are focused on doing the absolute best we can to make sure we get on top of that very challenging and tragic situation as swiftly as possible. The minister is being accountable. We absolutely think it is appropriate in these circumstances, if the chamber seeks the attendance of a minister, for the minister to attend and for the Senate to take note in relation to the minister's explanation. That is not something we have a problem with.

We do have a problem with paragraphs (b), (c) and (d) because they seek to provide unprecedented power to Senator Wong to move without notice a motion and to have the motion dealt with without amendment. It actually says so in the motion.