QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE

Senator WONG (South Australia—Minister for Foreign Affairs and Leader of the Government in the Senate) (14:32): I appreciate all of the rhetoric, but I think you've seen from the work—particularly in Senator Ayres' portfolio but also more broadly—the importance we attach to regional communities and regional jobs. However, what I would say in relation to this is that there are applications that are being dealt with under the statutory framework and in accordance with the law.

They are not political or policy decisions in the way that you have urged us to consider them.