Thank you, Mr. Chair, and thank you, Minister, for appearing before us today. We appreciate the opportunity.
I've heard members opposite talk about the need for independent advice and research, and so on, and I think we all agree that there is a need--and you've mentioned that--to get outside advice. But one of the figures you mentioned I found most alarming: that in the last ten years the government--ours and the previous government--has only sought advice from the Law Commission once. So it would appear that even the previous Liberal government, as far as getting value for taxpayers' dollars is concerned, was not even using the independent advice of the Law Commission.
I wonder if you could elaborate on that as to the value for taxpayers' dollars if the Law Commission was only requested to provide information once, in one report, and secondly, how the department can go about getting what is perceived as independent legal advice, go outside the department to get advice on any issue that might be before the government.