Chris Evans (WA, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Government in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek leave to incorporate and table an answer to a questions asked by Senator Bob Brown of me in my capacity as Minister representing the Prime Minister.

Leave granted.

The answer read as follows—

The Government made a commitment before the last election to establish an independent debates commission. In seeking to implement that commitment, the Government undertook negotiations with the Press Gallery about the establishment of such a commission. In the course of these negotiations, the Press Gallery made a non-negotiable demand of the Government that it agree to a debate being held on the last Sunday before polling day.

In terms of the second supplementary question, given the fact Press Gallery representatives have withdrawn from negotiations with the Government, this question has been overtaken by events.