Senator BOB CARR (New South Wales—Minister for Foreign Affairs) (14:27): I am very happy to have the opportunity to announce an initiative I concluded on Saturday night with our ambassador in Beijing. As a result of our consultation, I can announce that our ambassador will be seeking today to travel to Tibet to see for herself the grievances which have given rise to the self-immolations. Moreover— Honourable senators interjecting— Senator BOB CARR: I would have thought you would have been struck by the directness of the information conveyed in this answer. Moreover, I can convey that that request for a visit by our ambassador is being made today, possibly while we debate this matter in the Senate. Secondly, I can reveal to the Senate that the deputy head of mission, who today is visiting Sichuan Province, is making today a request to the Sichuan Foreign Affairs Office to inspect Tibetan establishments in that province, again to investigate the grievances that have given rise to these extreme and distressing forms of protest. Moreover, I can reveal to the Senate that our ambassador in Beijing is making an application today to have permission granted for a delegation of our Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade to go to Tibet to investigate these things themselves. I am very grateful for the question because it has given me an opportunity to share these recent initiatives with the house. Senator Ronaldson: Why don't you answer the question? Senator BOB CARR: Why not an answer to the question about the blog? That blog— (Time expired) Honourable senators interjecting — The PRESIDENT: Order! When there is silence, Senator Hanson-Young, you will get the call. You are entitled to be heard in silence, from both sides.