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

I understand Senator Coonan is new to the Foreign Affairs portfolio, but I would suggest to her that it is highly unlikely that, in trying to develop new regional architecture, you are going to have individual countries responding individually as the whole question and approach is discussed. Clearly that is not the way international relations work. As I understand it, the initiative that has been led by Mr Woolcott is continuing. He has been travelling extensively through the Asia-Pacific region discussing the Prime Minister’s suggestion, discussing responses with our counterpart countries. It is something that is being actively considered by those countries and, when a consensus or results emerge from that, I am sure the Prime Minister will be reporting to the parliament.