Ian Macdonald (Queensland, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

Senator Ludwig referred to me in his answer. My interjection to Senator Ludwig was drawn by profound disbelief. I challenge Senator Ludwig to tell us just one occasion when he as a minister ever answered questions on time and when he ever answered them before the next parliamentary estimates committees. If Senator Ludwig can prove that, can he please come forward and I will publicly apologise. I am very confident that neither him nor any of his colleagues ever answered questions from estimates by the appropriate date and more importantly never had them answered even by the time the next estimates session came around. I am making this rather bold claim although I must confess I did not attend absolutely every Senate estimates committee, but I did in those days attend quite a few. Yours was one, Senator Ludwig, and you never answered questions by the appropriate time—I can vouch for several other ministers as well.

Question agreed to.