Eric Abetz (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Minister for Employment) Share this | Hansard source

by leave—I advise the Senate that the Minister for Finance, Senator Cormann, will be absent from question time today and tomorrow in connection with preparation for the 2015-16 budget. I will take questions for the Finance, Treasury and Small Business portfolios in Senator Cormann's absence.

The Minister for Veterans' Affairs, Senator Ronaldson, is also absent from question time today as he is returning from representing Australia in Europe at commemorations relating to the centenary of the Gallipoli landings and the Great War. In Senator Ronaldson's absence, I will take questions in the Special Minister of State portfolio. Senator Brandis will represent the Veterans' Affairs and Centenary of Anzac portfolios, and Senator Birmingham will represent the Minister for Industry and Science.