Kim Carr (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research) Share this | Hansard source

The opposition here does not seem to know who its spokespersons are. It does not seem to know what its officers are actually doing. You make allegations that I have abused your staff. I have never spoken to your staff. The fact remains that information has been provided to me about the contact between the minister’s office and your office, and it would appear that that communication is not reaching you, Senator. That is not the responsibility of the government. We have acted in good faith. We have provided you with the assurances you wanted. We have provided you with the documentation you wanted. You have sought, therefore, to break an arrangement with us in terms of the recommitment of this amendment. You are now adding another amendment, which will have to go back to the House of Representatives and, in due course, be dealt with in the normal way.