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

There is absolutely no suggestion of that whatsoever. The Senate heard this morning, Senator McCarthy—I do not know if you were in the chamber or not—a most comprehensive and detailed account of these events from Senator Ryan and, to the extent to which he was responsible for the portfolio for a few months earlier this year, from Senator Cormann. The government has been absolutely punctilious and fastidious in ensuring that a complete account of these events has been provided to the Senate by my colleague Senator Ryan and my colleague Senator Cormann. If I might trespass upon the courtesy of the Senate for a moment to confirm, in response to a question you asked me earlier on in the afternoon, Senator Wong: the date on which I first became aware of the matter, from my conversation with Senator Ryan, was indeed 18 August.