Foreign affairs officials have been stymied from giving feedback on the federal government's asylum seeker policy during a parliamentary hearing.
The Senate's Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Legislation Committee on Thursday descended into a war of words as Labor's upper house leader Penny Wong met with repeated rejections to her questions.
"What is the department's understanding of the Indonesian government's view about the coalition policy on asylum seekers?" Senator Wong asked senior officers from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT).
Her question was ruled out by committee chairman, Liberal senator Alan Eggleston, who said it involves advice to government and ministers.
"At the current time (that is) a matter in flux and a matter of great sensitivity and I think it would be better if we simply accept there is a change ... which the Australian government will seek to work its way through," Senator Eggleston said.
News that makes sense
Your trusted source for staying up-to-date with the world around you. Get free daily news updates and analysis, straight to your inbox.
Senator Wong came at the topic from a different angle, asking officials to give feedback on media reports published in Indonesia about Australia's asylum seeker policy.
But Liberal senator George Brandis, representing the absent foreign minister, interjected.
"Unless you have been elsewhere in the solar system for the last few days you would be aware that this is a very delicate time in the bilateral relationship," Senator Brandis said.
"Neither the officers (here) nor the government, nor I would have thought responsible shadow ministers, would want by any utterance they make at these hearings, lend to those difficulties."
Senator Wong criticised Senator Brandis for winding officers into a state of paranoia.
"I find it extraordinary that a simple question about what the officials understand to be our bilateral partner's position on a sensitive issue can't be answered," she said.
Officers took on notice questions from Senator Wong about whether Australian officials had visited Indonesian villages to investigate the feasibility of the coalition's proposed boat buy-back scheme.
