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

Senator Milne, there is no need to be discourteous. The reason I did not respond to Senator Ludlam's question is very simple: because I had already answered it. In fact, I had already answered it twice in the course of this debate. I am not going to facilitate Senator Ludlam's parliamentary tactic of filibustering this legislation by responding repeatedly to questions that have already been asked and have already been addressed. That is the reason why I am not going to respond to a questions already asked and already answered.

Senator Milne, you mentioned Peter Greste. This government has gone to enormous lengths on behalf of Mr Peter Greste, whose parents are constituents of mine, as his family well knows and generously acknowledges. The Prime Minister has engaged the Egyptian head of government, the Foreign Minister has on numerous occasions engaged her Egyptian counterpart and the Egyptian Ambassador to Australia. I have engaged at length the Egyptian Attorney-General. Do not try and make a cheap political point, Senator Milne, out of the fate of Peter Greste.