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

How can it be a Senate inquiry when it is Labor and Greens? They are set down when Labor Party and Greens members know that government senators are elsewhere, on other inquiries. They have been told time and time again that government senators have other committees that they are precommitted to, and the hearings are still set down. So you have three Labor senators and a Greens senator as voting members on these committees, and no government senator. How can they possibly be classed as Senate inquiries, when they are nothing more than a political game being carried on by the Labor Party and the Greens political party, using Senate resources and the taxpayers' money? It is a disgrace.

I conclude by again congratulating Senator Brandis on the work he has done. I thank him for what he has done for Australia as the Leader of the Government in the Senate and as one of the best Attorney-Generals I have seen in my long term here. I again wish Senator Brandis continuing success—as I know he will have—in his role leading the government in this chamber and as Attorney-General of our nation.