George Brandis (Queensland, Liberal Party, Attorney-General) Share this | Hansard source

Senator, the nature of my response is that it is a written response to the question that was asked, which will be tabled during the ordinary course of Senate business at the time when the report and the response is tabled. Senator, if I may say so, through you Madam Temporary Chair, we are in the committee stage of the debate, none of the amendments circulated have yet been moved by any party. There is a series of questions that have come in, particularly from Senator Ludlam, to issues that have been raised by a Senate scrutiny committee to which a detailed response has in each particular case been provided but which, as a matter of ordinary course in the Senate business, will be tabled later in the day. I question whether or not we are now approaching an abuse of the committee stage of this debate by delaying the debate on amendments which have been circulated that, after nearly two hours, have not yet been commenced by questions which, in the ordinary course of events as part of the Senate's routine, as prescribed by the standing orders, will be tabled later in the day.