Eric Abetz (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Minister for Employment) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

by leave—Senator Ronaldson will be absent from the Senate for question time from today, Monday, 14 July to Thursday, 17 July owing to ministerial business overseas, which includes an invitation from the French government to celebrate Bastille Day but also, importantly, reinterring ADF personnel. Senator Johnston will represent the Minister for Veterans' Affairs and the Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for the Centenary of ANZAC. I will represent the Special Minister of State and Senator Cormann will represent the Minister for Industry.

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

Mr President, I seek leave to make a short statement.

Stephen Parry (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Leave is granted for one minute.

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

I thank the Leader of the Government in the Senate for his indication of ministerial absences. We in the opposition do accept that there are occasions on which ministers do need to be absent from question time and that occurred under our government as well. I would make just a couple of points, if I may.

This will mean that on not one sitting day in this fortnight will the government have presented a full ministerial line-up to the Senate. I understand Senator Cash was unavoidably absent, Senator Brandis was overseas for, I think, three or four days last week and, obviously, Senator Ronaldson will be absent this week.

I understand there are times when late notice is given but, on occasions where a minister has an overseas trip that has obviously been scheduled ahead of time, I would respectfully request of the Leader of the Government in the Senate if we could have a little more notice than shortly before question time of a week's absence. We would appreciate it. I do not seek to make a big political point about this; I am simply requesting that from the Leader of the Government in the Senate. (Time expired)

Eric Abetz (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Minister for Employment) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

by leave—My quick response is simply this: I think the Leader of the Opposition does make a fair comment in relation to notice being provided and my office will seek to do better in the future.