Richard Colbeck (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Fisheries and Forestry) Share this | Hansard source

Specifically in relation to Senator Feeney’s statement, I reject that the government has exclusive right to undertake processes to look at particular issues that might be of interest to the Australian community or to the parliament. This is a parliamentary process. I understand that the government has its own processes underway. I was present at the announcement of one of those and I have followed them closely from a portfolio responsibility perspective. But the government does not have exclusive rights to gather information. This parliament has the right to make that decision and to have a process occurring at the same time. In fact, it may be that this process assists the government process. I hope that is the case. I reject the government’s reasons, in particular, for opposing this reference.

Question put:

That the motion (Senator Colbeck’s) be agreed to.