Mathias Cormann (WA, Liberal Party, Vice-President of the Executive Council) Share this | Hansard source

Firstly, I reject the assertion that I misled the Senate yesterday. I stand by the advice that I gave the Senate yesterday. I'm also pleased to confirm for the Senate that Indonesia and Australia remain committed to the agreement and are looking for an opportunity to sign. As I advised the senator yesterday, after the substantive agreement was reached on 31 August 2018, with Prime Minister Scott Morrison and President Widodo present, there is now a process to be gone through to finalise the text in both languages. Indeed, the trade minister, our good friend and valued colleague Senator Birmingham, again confirmed today that the process we're going through now is to make sure that all the i's are dotted and all the t's are crossed, which is precisely what Senator Birmingham said today, and I stand by my advice to the Senate yesterday.