John Watson (Tasmania, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

by leave—I withdraw my objection to the formality. I had the highest of motives in objecting. It is very important, before voting on issues in this place, that people are fully informed. I sought an opportunity to ensure that the motion was factually correct. It appears that it is factually correct. I apologise for the time it has taken of the Senate, but I reiterate that, when we vote on an issue, it is incumbent on every member of this house of review to be fully informed on that issue. It is indeed difficult because people specialise in certain aspects of legislation in this place and there is no way that every member could be fully across all the issues, as Senator Brown has suggested.