Mark Dreyfus (Isaacs, Australian Labor Party, Cabinet Secretary) Share this | Hansard source

If I could first start with the procedural inquiry that was raised by the member for Mackellar. It was apparently some kind of expression of concern about the way in which the government here in the consideration in detail of appropriations is answering the questions. I listened intently to the previous consideration in detail over the hour that the Special Minister of State was answering questions posed by members of the opposition.

Mrs Bronwyn Bishop interjecting—

What I heard very directly was the Special Minister of State indicating very clearly to opposition members in response to their questions that he would take on notice a range of the questions in respect of which—

Mrs Bronwyn Bishop interjecting—

I listened in silence to the member for Mackellar and I think she should do me the same favour. I listened to the Special Minister of State taking on notice in saying he would get back honourable members in a timely fashion. That is how he ended his session here in consideration in detail. So I can assure the member for Mackellar that certainly we will be answering questions, and indeed if the member for Mackellar had looked at Hansard, because she was not here yesterday, she would have seen that I was here in the consideration in detail of the appropriations for the Department of Climate Change and Energy Efficiency attending with the Minister for Climate Change and Energy Efficiency. Both of us answered questions and I think that were she to consult Hansard she would see that I indeed answered the opposition's questions from yesterday. Going to the question about the Ombudsman's $900,000 indicated for scrutiny of processing refugee claims, and the indication that he is—

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