Joe Ludwig (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry) Share this | Hansard source

The answer to the honourable senator's question is as follows:

I confirm that I had ongoing discussions with the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry during the period 30 May 2011 and 2 June 2011.

It is a long standing practice of successive governments not to disclose discussions between ministers and their departments. The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry provided written advice to me at a number of times during this period. Details of which have been released under Freedom of Information Act.