Bob Brown (Tasmania, Australian Greens) Share this | Hansard source

Mr Deputy President, I ask if the senator who has moved this motion would go beyond just saying 'ministerial duties'. This is a sitting of the Senate. We have important matters before us. It is about to be followed by a motion requesting leave of absence for an equal number of members of the opposition. I believe the Senate is owed an explanation that is explicit about the need to put the Senate sitting second to the activities of the seven senators we are about to be asked to give leave to.