Senator BROWN (9:46 AM) —Is the government going to respond to that or is Senator Troeth simply going to sit on her seat, unable to give any information to this committee? This is an important matter and I think the very fact that there is no response at all—not even a yes or a no to that question—is a cavalier way of treating a very important matter that Australians are concerned about. I would expect that the government would be able to respond to such a simple question as to whether advice has been sought or not, even if the senator representing the government is not prepared to give the substance of that advice to this chamber to help it determine how it should vote.

Senator Troeth —We have already given it and you know it.

Question put: That the amendments (Senator Forshaw's ) be agreed to.