Mr PRICE —Mr Speaker, as you know, many members on both sides of the House are concerned at the plight of two Australian CARE workers, Pratt and Wallace. My question to you is: would you consider using your high office to sponsor a motion in this parliament that may be voted upon by all members, calling for the release of Pratt, Wallace and the Yugoslav national, which might be transmitted to the Yugoslav parliament?

Mr SPEAKER —I will consider the request from the member for Chifley. I should, however, point out that I have been impressed with the action taken by both the minister and his department in this instance, and I believe that is a view shared by all parliamentarians. The member for Chifley may not be aware but, in fact, I used the opportunity, when I had it, to speak directly with the Speaker of the Yugoslav parliament in order to use what influence I had at that level to get him to intervene on behalf of the aid workers. At the time we were being denied diplomatic access to them. We were subsequently granted diplomatic access, and I took the liberty of writing to the Speaker of the Yugoslav parliament expressing my appreciation for what I presumed to have been his intervention. I will further consider your request.