QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE

Senator WONG (South Australia—Minister for Foreign Affairs and Leader of the Government in the Senate) (14:36): The government has made clear its support for the royal commission. The royal commission has very wide powers, substantial powers, that it can choose to exercise, and the conduct of the royal commission is a matter for the royal commission. You, as a lawyer—as you often remind us—would know that it is an independent office appointed by the Crown, and there are powers which reside in the commission which executive government would be bound by.

We've made clear we will continue to respect the independence and the work of the commission. The PRESIDENT: Senator Shoebridge, first supplementary?