Senator Bourne asked the Minister representing the Prime Minister, upon notice, on 17 June 1997:

With reference to the petition presented by members of the public, including prominent Australians, the Friends of the Australian Broadcasting Commission (ABC) and ABC unions to the Prime Minister, on 27 March 1997, from more than 63 000 signatories expressing outrage and deep concern at the savage funding cuts to the ABC:

When will the Prime Minister present this petition to the Parliament, as required in the wording of the petition, given that it is now approximately 3 months since the petition was presented.

Senator Hill —The Prime Minister has provided the following answer to the honourable senator's question:

The petition will be tabled in the next session of Parliament.