Senator IAN CAMPBELL (Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Communications, Information Technology and the Arts) (3:55 PM) —We will be opposing the suspension motion. Senator O'Brien's reasons are actually quite sensible and reasonable on this occasion. We are aware that the Tasmanian Forest Practices Board have discussed the specific and, I think, important concerns with the local complainants, who have obviously done the right thing and the civic thing by bringing these matters to the attention of the Forest Practices Board—the statutory body appointed under the Forest Practices Act of Tasmania—which is very much the proper process. Quite clearly, as Senator O'Brien has pointed out, you allow these proper processes and ensure the community supports these processes. The minister at the federal level will look at the Tasmanian Forest Practices Board's written report when it is completed.

It is of course open to any senator to seek to suspend the standing orders to suspend all business of the Senate to make a political point about these issues, but I think people should be under no illusion about what exactly is being done here—a political point is being made. It will not assist the cause of those complainants. It will not assist those who seek to promote best forestry practice in Tasmania by what could be seen by the cynical as nothing but a cheap political stunt.

Question put: