George Brandis (Queensland, Liberal Party, Minister for the Arts and Sport) Share this | Hansard source

Senator Carr should not infer from anything that I have said that anyone is stalling. What I have said on behalf of Ms Bishop, whom I represent in this chamber, is that the preparation of the answers is proceeding and that many of the questions taken on notice are very complex ones.

There are two obligations, not one. Senator Carr would have you believe that there is merely an obligation to respond in a timely fashion. There is, but there is also an obligation to respond accurately and thoroughly. Sometimes a thorough and accurate response to questions taken on notice will take some little while. Senator Carr, with respect, you should not draw an adverse inference against the minister merely because the answers are still in preparation. Nor can you infer from anything I said on behalf of the minister that there is a reluctance to answer the questions. I have told you that I have pursued the matter with the minister. I cannot add to that. I thank you for acknowledging my bona fides in the matter, but you should not, Senator Carr, doubt the bona fides of Ms Bishop either. All of us as members of parliament, either of this chamber or of the other place, acknowledge our obligations to the parliament as paramount and those obligations will be fulfilled in due course.

Question agreed to.