Derek McDowell (Labour)

The point I tried to elucidate for the Minister, obviously not well, was the issue of factual information. This is critical. The Government is effectively bringing down the veil on a huge amount of information that is currently available to us, particularly in relation to Government decisions. We need clarity on this.

Let us take the example of the tax strategy group papers. I am not reassured by Senator Mansergh's comments. My reading of the Bill is that papers of committees or sub-committees of officials, and the word "official" is defined to include advisers, will no longer be available as a matter of course.