John Howard (Bennelong, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I inform the House that the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade will be absent from question time today for personal reasons. I am happy to say that he and his wife, Wendy, have become grandparents for the first occasion. We congratulate them.

Honourable Members:

Hear, hear!

John Howard (Bennelong, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Minister for Foreign Affairs will answer questions on his behalf. I also inform the House that the Minister for Small Business and Tourism will be absent from question time. She is interstate attending a major industry meeting. The Minister for Industry, Tourism and Resources will answer questions on her behalf.