Rod Kemp (Victoria, Liberal Party, Minister for the Arts and Sport) Share this | Hansard source

Mr Acting Deputy President Marshall, very rarely do I query your ruling but the debate revolved around some bias in funding and this is exactly the question that I am tackling. I think it is entirely appropriate to address these very unfortunate comments from Senator Wong and others. The point I am making is this: it is the parents and principal representatives who vote on the state based assessment advisory panels which assess applications, and the minister states that neither the department nor the state government adviser has any vote on the project. I hope that lays to rest the accusations which have been made. It is entirely appropriate if senators think—