Chris Ellison (WA, Liberal Party, Minister for Justice and Customs) Share this | Hansard source

Senator Ludwig has not listened to the answer I have just gone through very carefully. I say again: the initial PSCC advice was that analysis of the powder tested positive as a biological agent. That was conveyed to the public by the Minister for Foreign Affairs and the Prime Minister. Subsequently, when further advice was obtained, that was conveyed to the community as well. If they had not done so, I would suggest that you would have Senator Ludwig and others criticising them for not doing their duty and keeping the Australian public informed of what was a very serious incident.