Senator MICHAEL BAUME --I would like to say right at the beginning that the committee is in general acting under an immense burden of lack of knowledge. This does not relate to tourism, but to the portfolio as a whole. There has been a lack of knowledge of the responses to questions on notice, with the result that there might be some bad-tempered senators around.

Senator Faulkner --My understanding in relation to Tourism is that all the questions have been provided within the specified time frame.

Senator MICHAEL BAUME --Absolutely.

Senator Faulkner --I think you will find that is also the case when we move through to Environment, Sport and Territories. There has been a question in relation to Communications and the Arts which we were talking privately about a moment ago, but I can assure you that is not a valid point in relation to the other departments.

Senator MICHAEL BAUME --I specifically said that my point was not relating to Tourism but to the committee's general problems with the questions taken on notice and the fact that the arrangements appear to have broken down seriously, which puts at risk the committee's capacity to deal adequately with the estimates. I just want to put that on the record.