Senator BRANDIS (Queensland—Deputy Leader of the Government in the Senate, Vice-President of the Executive Council, Minister for Arts and Attorney-General) (14:47): Thank you, Senator Ruston, for that important question. I can advise the honourable senator that the government has decided to recommend to His Excellency the Governor-General that the current letters patent for the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse be amended so as to extend the reporting date of the royal commission to 15 December 2017. That is an extension of the current reporting date by two years. I am assured by the chairman of the royal commission, Justice McClellan, that this will be sufficient to enable the royal commission to complete its work. The extension of the royal commission will be at a cost of $125.8 million. That is in addition to the $377 million currently budgeted for, bringing the Commonwealth's total commitment to slightly above $500 million. Although this is a very significant amount of money, it is the view of the government, given the importance of the royal commission's work, that this outlay is justified. I am aware of a media— Senator Cameron: You've taken that money off pensioners anyway. Senator BRANDIS: I thought you might take this topic more seriously, Senator Cameron. I am aware of a media report recently that suggested that there was some doubt about the government's commitment to extending the royal commission. That report was completely inaccurate. I can tell honourable senators that I have met with Justice McClellan on two occasions since the beginning of this year, most recently on 3 July, and was able to reassure him that the government would look favourably upon his request to extend the sitting dates. Justice McClellan asked that that decision be made by the beginning of September. I was able to telephone him last night to confirm that the decision had been made.