Katy Gallagher (ACT, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Public Service) Share this | Hansard source

I seek leave to make a short statement.

Leave is granted for one minute.

The telcos have today decided to delay the 3G switchover until the end of October. The government agrees this is a positive development to ensure every effort can be made to ensure public safety during this process. Given the public interest in ensuring accurate information is shared, our government has set about preparing a response to the committee at an expedited rate.

What interests me is the hypocrisy of the coalition on the expediency of government responses to committee reports. In 1973 the Senate expressed its opinion that reports of committees should be responded to within three months. This resolution has stood for 51 years. It is surprising that those opposite have discovered a sudden interest in the production of government responses given the hundreds left without any response for years by their government, many by those who were ministers in that government and who have now sponsored this motion.