John Faulkner (NSW, Australian Labor Party, Cabinet Secretary) Share this | Hansard source

Mr President, on the point of order: as has been pointed out, standing order 72(2)(a) indicates:

... unless leave of the Senate is granted for the question to be asked without notice, it may be asked only on notice.

Now we have the situation that the shadow minister is requesting leave of the Senate. I submit to you, Mr President, that it is clearly within the spirit and letter of this standing order for either leave not to be granted or, if leave is granted by senators in the chamber, the relevant chair of a committee to take the matter as a question on notice.