Senator BRANDIS (Queensland—Deputy Leader of the Government in the Senate, Vice-President of the Executive Council, Minister for Arts and Attorney-General) (14:36): I will come to your question in a second, Senator, but I will if I may just finish what I was saying in answer to your primary question. The operation of the Australian intelligence agencies is undergirded by strong statutory accountability requirements and oversight. Senator Ludlam: Mr President, on a point of relevance: the Attorney has just opened his answer by explaining that it will not be relevant to the question I have just asked. Can we just draw your attention to the question I just put to you, please? The PRESIDENT: The minister needs to address the question. The minister still has 48 seconds left. Senator BRANDIS: I just wanted to complete my answer to your first question, Senator Ludlam; that is all. But to come directly to your first supplementary question: yes, I have studied President Obama's remarks carefully; and Australian governments, of both sides of this aisle, are always alert to ensure that the statutory framework which undergirds and provides for the accountability mechanism of our intelligence agencies is as appropriate and relevant as possible. Nobody says that the laws should never be reformed—they should always be kept under review. There actually is an independent advisor on terrorism laws whose remit is broad enough to extend to— (time expired)