Senator ROBERT RAY (2:40 PM) —My question is to Senator Hill representing the foreign minister. Minister, given that today you confirmed that you asked Mr Smith and Mr Bonighton for letters, can you tell us who asked the Director-General of ASIS for his letter regarding the briefing of the opposition leader? Was it the foreign minister, Mr Downer? Was it the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade? Did he provide the letter of his own volition? When Mr David Irvine provided the letter, was he informed that it was going to become a public document—that is, released by the foreign minister? Was he at all apprised of the fact that it may be a matter of controversy once it was released?

Senator HILL (Minister for Defence) —In view of the detail sought by the question, I will refer it to the foreign minister for an early response.

Senator ROBERT RAY —Mr President, I ask a supplementary question. On what is probably a related matter of briefings, I ask the minister: given that in representing himself today—and, I take it, the Prime Minister and the foreign minister—he has said there have not been enough requests for briefings by opposition members, in the future will opposition members be able to fully minute those briefings if disputation occurs? While we are on the subject of briefings, why are members of the Labor Party being barred by you from visiting Amberley in Queensland to try to get themselves briefed and across issues, when in the six years I was defence minister I never refused one coalition member a base visit?

Senator HILL (Minister for Defence) —The first part of the supplementary raises interesting issues, because of course in future I guess Mr Bonighton would need to be accompanied by another party—an honest broker, in effect. Why did he go by himself? Because he did not dream that he would be verballed by Mr Latham in this way. Traditionally it has not been necessary to have somebody vouch for the public servant. Why didn't we accompany Mr Bonighton? Because that has not been necessary in the past either. What has changed? What has changed is Mr Latham, who is prepared to verbal a public servant for short-term political gain. In relation to briefings, I would have thought that most in the opposition would say I have been open and helpful. I have always sought to be, because I believe that the opposition has a right to be briefed. In most instances, I have also thought it is unnecessary to have somebody else attend to vouch for the truth. (Time expired)