Don Farrell (SA, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for the Centenary of ANZAC) Share this | Hansard source

Yes, Senator Bilyk is just right. We do need the answers to those questions. Then we asked another question of Senator Brandis: did the Attorney-General provide any instructions to the Solicitor-General, this Australian Government Solicitor or the ATO consistent with his view? Again, we got no answers to that question. Again, I say that we need some answers to these questions. We never got them in the lengthy and detailed response that Senator Brandis gave.

We know that the Western Australian government purported to pass these laws. They obviously thought they had a deal with the Australian government. As we now know, Ambassador Hockey had lengthy and detailed discussions with these people. But he is now in America; he is now our ambassador. We are asking sensible and straightforward questions of the Attorney-General as to what he knew and what discussions he had with particular individuals. I think the minimum this parliament owes to the people of Australia is to answer those questions. Those questions have been asked, they are on notice and we want some answers. (Time expired)