Michael Forshaw (NSW, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

Mr President, I think this is the first chance I have had to congratulate you on your election. I entirely agree with the comments of Senators Sherry and O’Brien that your ruling was correct. I listened to your statement closely and I support it fully. It seems that this issue may run on for a little bit of time, with senators indicating that they would like the Senate Standing Committee on Procedure to look at it, so we may well get an opportunity to have a fuller debate, and hopefully it is not one that is dominated by lawyers arguing about angels on the head of a pin—and I say that as a lawyer.