Chris Evans (WA, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Government in the Senate) Share this | Hansard source

I thank the senator for his question. I had a brief on this issue when it was current some days ago but I actually took it out of the file, thinking that you had not got round to it. I will do my best and get any further information for you later, Senator Ronaldson, if I do not answer it all. I can say that Prime Minister and Cabinet continue to provide commentary in a coordination way on cabinet submissions. As I understand it, there have been some changes in the way those processes are applied, but they do provide commentary on submissions. They are very actively engaged with ministers and their departments on their cabinet submissions. I can vouch for that. They take a keen interest in any cabinet submission you make and engage with you fully on all the issues. So there is still strong engagement by PM&C on all cabinet submissions but there have been some changes to processes, and I will get the detail on notice, Senator Ronaldson, about how I can help you. I do not have the brief in front of me. But it is the case, as you would expect, that the Prime Minister continues to get extensive briefings from the department on all cabinet submissions. He is always very well prepared and is fully briefed by his department. But there have been some changes to the processes and I will take on notice the remaining parts of the question I have not been able to help the senator with and provide him with an answer.