At the request of the Chair of the Senate Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade, Senator Mark Bishop, I move:

That the Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Committee be authorised to hold an in camera hearing during the sitting of the Senate on Thursday, 19 March 2009, from 5 pm, to take evidence for the committee’s inquiry into the economic and security challenges facing Papua New Guinea and the island states of the southwest Pacific.

Question agreed to.