Brandis, Sen George

Senator BRANDIS (Queensland—Deputy Leader of the Opposition in the Senate) (14:14): My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Evans. Will the minister explain why it was acceptable when Labor was in opposition for there to be four inquiries into the GST bills, all chaired by non-government senators, with non-government majorities, which had five months to report, during which time the debate did not proceed in the parliament, yet now, in government, Labor believes the carbon tax can be adequately scrutinised by one committee, chaired by a Labor member, with just three weeks to report, during which time debate in the parliament will proceed? Why was public accountability and thorough parliamentary scrutiny of a major structural alteration reasonable then but unnecessary now?