Amanda Vanstone (SA, Liberal Party, Minister for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs) Share this | Hansard source

It is true that some questions on notice asked by Senator Carr, and possibly some other senators, have not yet been answered. They were meant to be answered by 14 July. My advice is that on 10 July the first assistant secretary responsible for managing the flow of answers to the committee in fact wrote to the committee and indicated that the department was having some difficulty on this occasion because of both the volume of questions that were taken on notice and the level of detail putting a burden on the department. I do not have the advice with me at the moment, because I was only told during question time that this question was going to be asked, as to what has happened since 10 July—because it is now four weeks further on since then—but I undertake, Senator Carr, to get some advice from the department as to where they are with not just your questions but any others. I will try to give you some advice as to when you can expect whatever answers are today outstanding.