George Brandis (Queensland, Liberal Party, Shadow Attorney-General) Share this | Hansard source

Mr Acting Deputy Speaker, on the point of order: as you know—although as Senator Arbib is a very new senator, perhaps he does not fully appreciate this—there is wide latitude given in these debates in relation to matters germane to the document. What Senator Macdonald is addressing is the Telstra sale report, which, if you look at it, and I am sure we have all studied this document with care, does deal with regional services in Queensland. The point Senator Macdonald is making is, if I may submit with respect, a relevant point—that is, the failure of the Queensland state Labor government to use whatever influence it may have over the Rudd federal Labor government, and particularly the communications minister, has materially diminished the interests of the people in regional Queensland who rely upon these telecommunication services.