Hon. Denise Batters: Senator Tannas, I appreciated how you raised some of the different parts of normal debate which have not been happening on some of these measures. I would put to you another one that I have been noticing frequently. The government leader in the Senate generally has not been giving speeches on these major government bills to allow senators the substantial opportunity we have to be able to ask the government leader questions, to hear, first, a lengthy perspective from the government’s point of view as to why the bill is important and then to give senators the opportunity for a much lengthier and more detailed period of time from someone who is in the Privy Council to answer questions. Would you agree that is also an important component, which, for too many government bills, has not been happening?

Hon. Denise Batters: I have a very quick question to Senator Downe.

Senator Batters: Thank you. In light of what Senator Gold said about the remarks of the Government Representative on this particular matter having some weight, would you also agree that it’s important to note, then, that today the government leader said that he referred to the pre-study and that this matter was properly considered at the pre-study of the Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee? However, isn’t it important to note, then, that the pre-study consisted of the Minister of Justice and officials for one hour and that’s it? It was not an exhaustive week-long study or a full day-long study, or anything like that. Is that necessary to consider in that remark?