Maria Kovacic (NSW, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

I also rise to take note of answers to all questions from coalition senators today. Can I say that I'm really disturbed by what I've heard today—the responses here and also to the questions that I asked. We have an Attorney-General who has deemed that he is not accountable to the Australian people to respond to serious questions as to what has transpired here. I'm going to read what he said:

I will not be apologising for upholding the law. I will not be apologising for pursuing the rule of law and I will not be apologising for acting...

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Do not interrupt! I will not be apologising ... for acting in accordance with a High Court decision. Your question is an absurd one …

This was an attack on a journalist who was doing her job. If Mr Dreyfus, our Attorney-General had been doing his own job, then the journalist would not have been compelled to ask these questions. I am deeply concerned that he berated her and admonished her for daring to hold him to account. That is unacceptable.

I'm going to lead on to the excuses that have been used here.