David Johnston (WA, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Defence) Share this | Hansard source

I move:

That the Senate take note of the explanation as provided by the minister.

I thank the minister for using his good offices to obtain the answers to what are important questions. Very briefly, questions—whether they be without notice or upon notice—are the fundamental building block upon which the Senate and, more particularly, the parliament is built. A failure to answer questions in a timely way undermines the important rights of the Australian people though their parliament—that is, the right to know and to understand what their government is doing. I urge the minister to use his good offices to provide those answers and I thank him for his consideration in that regard.

Question agreed to.