Robert Ray (Victoria, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

Mr Deputy President, on a point of order: I am finding this interesting but in fact not relevant to the requirements of the standing orders. Later on this afternoon, under ministerial statements, Senator Ian Campbell could make a statement on this. At the moment he is required to explain why the answer has not been provided. He did that at the start of his contribution. Now he has gone off to proselytise on a number of matters, all of which are interesting and, no doubt, very good initiatives. You cannot have a de facto ministerial statement at this time, even if someone gives you the opportunity to do so. You will be setting a precedent that we will all live to regret. I am not trying to be abusive to Senator Ian Campbell. I really think that, at this stage at least, he has to explain why the questions are not answered. If Senator Milne then moves that the answer be noted, it will give him far more scope and opportunity to inform the chamber about some of these projects.