Senator BROWN —by leave—On Monday I brought into the Senate a notice of motion on self-determination for East Timor and read it out so that every member of the Senate could hear and clearly understand the motion. Two days have passed and the evaluation of that motion has been avail able not only to the Senate but also to the Minister for Foreign Affairs (Mr Downer). Today the Senate voted unanimously and without demur to endorse that motion on self-determination for East Timor.

The PRESIDENT —Senator Brown, you have been given leave to make a personal explanation. You should not be debating the motion you brought in or what has occurred.

Senator BROWN —In response to my question during question time, the minister said that I had sought to mislead the Senate and that my motion was a trick. I want to make it clear that neither of those things is true. It is patently a part of government bungling, if at best, that this situation has arisen. Let me say that it was an earnest motion brought in here with great seriousness by me. I believe the vote of this Senate—whatever the government says—reflects the fact that the majority of people in this Senate in their hearts agree with the terms of that motion.