Marise Payne (NSW, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

As the Chair of the Senate Legal and Constitutional Legislation Committee, which deals with these matters at great length, particularly in the estimates context, I think it is very important to note for the record that the committee and the departments which engage with it and support it in the estimates process—one of which is the Department of Immigration and Multicultural Affairs—are the recipients of an enormous volume of questions on notice taken through the estimates process, both in writing and verbally, during the hours and days of questioning. I want to note for the record that, in my experience, except on a couple of minor occasions, the secretaries and the senior officers of the department go out of their way to ensure that questions are returned as promptly as possible, and when they are not the committee takes it up with them in a formal process. It lays its concerns on the record and they are usually acknowledged and dealt with. So, whilst I note Senator Carr’s intervention, I do think it is very important to record that the department does make due effort to assist the committee in terms of responses to questions taken on notice. But the volume is phenomenal, without any shadow of a doubt, by comparison to any other committee. I think it is important to have that on the record.

Question agreed to.