Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition in the Senate) Share this | Hansard source

I withdraw whatever aspect that he was offended by. Mr President, I make three points. The first is that the motion that the Senate has passed has three separate paragraphs. It does require the Assistant Treasurer to immediately attend the chamber and give some subject matter which the explanation should reflect. A separate paragraph, at paragraph (3)—which I assert to you is a continuing obligation and separate from the obligation in paragraph (1)—says that if no statement has been made by 12 noon today that I may immediately move a further motion relating to his failure to comply. On that basis I say to you that the Clerk's advice is correct and I should proceed to move this motion. I again say to the Leader of the Government in the Senate that, if he says that Senator Sinodinos has not had time to attend, we will defer this motion.