Barnaby Joyce (Queensland, National Party, Leader of The Nationals in the Senate) Share this | Hansard source

It is not an abuse of the process for me, on behalf of the Australian people, to ask questions of the minister and to have some expectation that we will get an attempt at an answer without a groan or a moan of frustration. If you do not know where that reference is then just say, 'I am unaware of where that reference is; I will take it on notice and get back to you.' That is a much more simple and polite way to go about it rather than to yack-ai on. The rationale for the 12-month period as explained by the department is as follows:

Extension to a 12 month period—

for a temporary licence as opposed to a continuing voyage permit, which lasts for three months—

will provide holders of these licences with greater certainty regarding their shipping arrangements.

How does this take into account the commercial reality in many parts of the shipping industry, where a 12-month schedule is not possible to predict?