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

As I understand it now, I found out about it at the same time the opposition claims it found out. And we are not actually sure whether they may not have found out about it a bit earlier. Mr Abbott has apparently refused to answer at a doorstop when he found out. In fact, he ended the doorstop and left. So I think there are questions. The government has been very clear about when it found out. It is now a bit of an open question as to when the opposition found out. But, as I have repeatedly said, when advised by Qantas as a courtesy—not offering us options, not inviting us to intervene, but advising us of their actions and advising that if it leaked they might take that action earlier; that is, they would not be deterred from taking that action—we sought proper advice, followed that advice and were successful in ending the dispute before the lockout was due to occur.