Guy Barnett (Tasmania, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

Did I give the minister the courtesy? Yes, I did. I rang the minister's office personally this morning. Not only that, I emailed the minister personally this morning. His office responded to my office personally this morning. Minister Bowen was fully aware of exactly what was coming through to the Senate at exactly this time after question time today. What has happened? The minister has not even advised, perhaps as a courtesy, Senator Carr, so I am not reflecting on Senator Carr. Frankly, it is a disgrace. These questions were not just asked by coalition senators; they were asked by members of the crossbench as well, so it is a reflection on the entire Senate and the entire parliament.

What are the sorts of issues that we were asking about at Senate estimates? They were about people-smugglers, visa applications, asylum seekers, humanitarian programs, terrorist groups, detention centres, escape from detention centres, abuse allegations—