Mr Tony Burke (Watson, Australian Labor Party, Manager of Opposition Business (House)) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the member for Flynn in his capacity as the chair of the Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade. I refer to the inquiry he has been leading. When does the member expect the report to finally be tabled?

Honourable Members:

Honourable members interjecting—

Tony Smith (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The question's in order.

Ken O'Dowd (Flynn, National Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you for the question. We have received 18 submissions. I and my deputy—the very competent deputy sitting over there—and some of my other committee members spent last Friday together and we did eight submissions. We have eight witnesses tomorrow—and anyone's welcome to a public hearing—from the Export Council of Australia. We start about half past eight in the morning—if any of you are out of bed by then!

Honourable Members:

Honourable members interjecting—

An honourable member: You've just been bull-dogged.

Tony Smith (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Members on both sides.

Ken O'Dowd (Flynn, National Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Once we've received all the submissions, we will finalise our report sometime before Christmas.

Malcolm Turnbull (Wentworth, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

On that triumphant note, I ask that further questions be placed on the Notice Paper.

Tony Smith (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank the Prime Minister. I just say to the member for Blaxland: if he reflects on his question and the Manager of Opposition Business's, he'll see the reason for my ruling out the original question.