Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition in the Senate) Share this | Hansard source

Madam Deputy President, I can give an indication and I can get a senator down here, because we have in excess of a hundred questions.

Senator Abetz interjecting—

Would you like me to seek leave to make a short statement, Eric? I'm happy to do that. I'm speaking to the point of order.

Senator Abetz interjecting—

I know that. I'm making this point: I think that the Leader of the Government in the Senate may be technically correct, because we asked Senator Keneally, as the deputy leader, to make a contribution in relation to in excess of 100—and I'm hoping that someone is going to provide me with a schedule soon, as per my request—questions which have been asked by Labor senators but not answered, for estimates. We are seeking that she make this contribution as the Deputy Leader of the Opposition in the Senate. I would take advice from the Clerk. I can't recall whether or not 'on behalf of Labor senators' has been permitted in the standing orders. If the ruling is different, I'm happy to indicate we have Senators Polley, Gallagher, McCarthy, Green, Kitching—I can go through this—myself and many others. If the government want to use a technicality to avoid a discussion about the extent to which they are avoiding parliamentary scrutiny, the Leader of the Government in the Senate can take that debating point. The point is that the government is failing—

Senator Birmingham interjecting—

Well, the standing orders also require you—