Dean Smith (WA, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

On behalf of Senator Williams and pursuant to notice given on 10 May 2017, I withdraw Senate notice of motion No. 1 standing in Senator William's name for 8 August 2017 proposing the disallowance of the export control plants and plant products Norfolk Island order 2016.

Nick Xenophon (SA, Nick Xenophon Team) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I ask that general business notice of motion No. 325 standing in my name for today relating to the attendance of a witness at a hearing of the Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Legislation Committee be withdrawn. I also seek leave to make a short statement no longer than 30 seconds.

Leave granted.

This motion was to seek to call a particular official from the Department of Defence in respect of a contract that was signed. The department initially resisted that but, in a letter to Senator Chris Back, the chair of the Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Legislation Committee today, the Defence department indicated that it will ensure that the officer that signed the contract for Mr Gould will be listed as a witness.