Parliamentary Committees

The Hon. J.E. HANSON (15:18): Supplementary question arising from the answer: can the minister rule out overseas trips getting in the way of him attending important committee meetings?

The Hon. D.W. RIDGWAY (Minister for Trade and Investment) (15:18): I thank the honourable member for his interest in my diary and my activities. I have very important roles to fulfil as a cabinet minister and I put a priority on those. As I said in my previous answer, if I am available and not in cabinet or undertaking duties that I am required to do as a cabinet minister—which could include travel, not only overseas but within the state or interstate—if I am available I am more than happy and willing to participate in the select committees, and I suspect add some real rigour to the questioning as well.