Senator CHRIS EVANS (Leader of the Opposition in the Senate) (2:01 PM) —I seek leave to make a short statement, Mr President.

Leave granted.

Senator CHRIS EVANS —Until a minute ago, the opposition had not been informed that Senator Minchin would not be attending today’s question time. I have just spoken to the acting leader, who says that apparently we were to be told. But we were not informed. We have no record of that. I do not know whether it was because Senator Minchin was not able—

Senator Ian Macdonald —What’s your point?

Senator CHRIS EVANS —It is about courtesy, Senator. It is about the courtesy of informing people whether the Leader of the Government in the Senate is going to turn up for question time. While the T3 launch may well be a shambles, normal courtesies require people to be informed. Neither the Manager of Opposition Business nor I knew. It seems to me to be appropriate, and it has always been past practice, that we are informed prior to question time if ministers are not to be in the parliament and be accountable. I express my disquiet at the fact that that was not done and indicate that today a number of questions were to be directed to Senator Minchin, given the fiasco that is the T3 launch.