Rex Patrick (SA, Independent) Share this | Hansard source

I want to go to the question of advocacy, and I'll just describe to those that might be listening how things might work on a pragmatic level. As a South Australian senator, I often take advantage of the fact that Senator Ruston is a South Australian senator and a minister. Throughout my engagement over the last three years in relation to matters dear to my heart and to the hearts of my constituents, I will often contact Senator Ruston and talk to her, whether it be about wine, water or a social security matter. I take advantage of the fact that, as a minister, she's in a position of power and that I've got close access to her, because I can just pick up the phone and say, 'Can I have a coffee with you, please.' In that context, we have the Assistant Minister to the Attorney-General, who is a Queenslander. So I ask the minister, the assistant Attorney: how many times has Senator Watt picked up the phone to you and said, 'I'd like to have a sit-down with you and talk to you about lack of resources in the Family Court and the Federal Circuit Court in either Brisbane or Cairns'? I wonder how many times he's picked up the phone and taken advantage of the fact that you're a Queenslander and a minister in that portfolio. He clearly has particular concerns. How many times has he picked up the phone and advocated for Queensland with you about that issue?