Bob Brown (Tasmania, Australian Greens) Share this | Hansard source

Senator Milne reminds me that there are thousands of dollars of taxpayers’ money going into a schooling system that offers no tertiary education at the end of it, at least as far as universities are concerned. Tens of thousands, if not millions, of dollars are going to the Exclusive Brethren schooling system, paid for by taxpayers who cannot get answers out of the government to simple questions through this parliamentary system.

This relationship is unhealthy. There is much more to it than meets the eye. We are on the last day here and I have waited for these answers. I am not going to delay the Senate anymore, but let me put this to the government very clearly: it is obliged under the standing orders of this parliament to answer these questions. It should answer them before we close this evening. If not, every member of the Australian public has the right to believe that this government is covering up.

Question agreed to.