Mathias Cormann (WA, Liberal Party, Minister for Finance) Share this | Hansard source

Mr President, with the small kerfuffle just before question time, I missed the window to make a statement regarding ministerial absence. I now seek leave to do that.

Leave granted.

I thank the Senate. I advise the Senate that Senator Payne will be absent from question time all this week on overseas ministerial business. In Senator Payne's absence, I will represent the Minister for Defence, the Minister for Defence Industry, the Minister for Veterans' Affairs, the Minister for Defence Personnel and the Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for the Centenary of ANZAC, as well as the Minister for Foreign Affairs and the Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment.