Mrs DRAPER —May I also congratulate you on your election, Mr Speaker.

Honourable members interjecting—

Mr SPEAKER —Will members extend the same courtesy to others as they would expect for themselves? That includes you, member for Hotham.

Mrs DRAPER —My question is addressed to the Attorney-General. I refer the Attorney-General to his statement yesterday at question time that Senator Bolkus had released details of confidential Federal Court documents relating to Christopher Skase. What steps is the government taking to investigate this matter?

Honourable members interjecting—

Mr SPEAKER —Before the Attorney-General starts I say to members that if you persist in intervention we will stop the proceedings until you have stopped.

Mr WILLIAMS (Attorney-General) —I thank the member for Makin for her question. As I said yesterday, Senator Bolkus has been captured red-handed on video revealing to the media the contents of confidential Federal Court documents relating to Christopher Skase. Those documents, as I said, appear to have been given to Senator Bolkus unlawfully or improperly or obtained by him unlawfully or improperly. The exposure of the information has the potential to frustrate completely the considerable efforts being made to recover Skase's assets overseas. In view of the significance of the leak, the Minister for Justice has requested the Australian Federal Police to investigate it.

When he was leaking the contents of the document to the media, Senator Bolkus is apparently recorded as saying, `I can't give this document out, but maybe if I just read it off the record.' This is the proceedings in court. In the circumstances there seems to be no doubt that Senator Bolkus would be able to assist the Federal Police with their inquiries.

The Australian public has a great interest in the Skase affair and there are many creditors owed millions of dollars who have a great stake in the attempt to recover the overseas assets. What should happen is this: the Leader of the Opposition should instruct Senator Bolkus to stand down and cooperate with the Federal Police. Will the Leader of the Opposition do that? No, he will not. The Leader of the Opposition does not control people like Senator Bolkus. The Leader of the Opposition does not require his shadow ministers to adhere to any proper standards of conduct. Will the Leader of the Opposition stand Senator Bolkus down? No, he will not. The opposition will continue to do whatever it takes to score a political point, no matter what the consequence, no matter how reprehensible the conduct.