Eric Abetz (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Minister for Fisheries, Forestry and Conservation) Share this | Hansard source

It is always to be regretted when answers come back after the time limits. I apologise to the honourable senator for that; but I respectfully suggest to him and to others in these circumstances: when you are told that the answers are available at the Table Office there is no need to read from a prepared script to say that the government is seeking to avoid scrutiny or that it is not providing answers to questions. The senator knows that the process has worked, albeit unfortunately in a delayed way, for which I apologise.

Question agreed to.