Senator RHIANNON: Dr Richards, I also had some questions on NICNAS and animal testing. I came in when you were in the middle of some of your questions; I apologise if I am repeating any. I want to start off with some process questions, so that I can understand the situation. What information does NICNAS require companies to provide about animal tested substances in order to fulfil data requirements set out in the industrial chemicals act?

Senator WILLIAMS: Okay. This has been very controversial, this issue of free-range eggs. You said on 14 November last year:

Some have expressed concern there is no government standard that producers need to meet to be a free-range producer. We see no need for any standard …

You were reported in Melbourne on that Thursday. How do you define 'free-range eggs'?

The Australian Greens have welcomed Universities Australia's call for increased government funding to the higher education sector, and applaud their decision to withdraw support for the Abbott government's policy of university fee deregulation.

"With Universities Australia withdrawing support for deregulation, the Abbott government should acknowledge it has lost its main support base and drop its proposals to increase fees and cut public funding" said Greens higher education spokesperson Senator Lee Rhiannon.

• ATO statistics show number of university graduates with large HEC debts growing May 1, Sydney Morning Herald

The Australian Greens say the Abbott government has again sided with private interests over public education in its decision to withhold money from South Australia because of the states' new policy of prioritising TAFE in the provision of training.

Greens spokesperson for higher education Senator Lee Rhiannon today said: "The South Australian government has started to realise the significant problems associated with the current national partnership agreement on training and have moved to prioritise the public sector, something the federal government should take on board.

The Australian Greens are backing the NSW auditor-general's call for Wollongong University to ban political donations and are asking for this to be implemented at a state and federal government level.

"The newly released NSW auditor-general's report has put Wollongong University's political donations back under the spotlight," Greens higher education spokesperson Senator Lee Rhiannon said.

The Australian Greens are calling on state and federal governments to immediately move to prohibit universities from making political donations in response to the newly released NSW auditor-general's report which states that 30 per cent of universities in the state have made donations to political parties since 2008.

Senator RHIANNON: Commissioner, when AFP personnel travel overseas on official business with family or friends, do the family and friends have to be given a security clearance?

Mr Colvin : The only time that AFP would travel overseas with family, certainly not with friends-are you talking official travel?

Senator RHIANNON: Yes, official travel.

Mr Colvin : I could not imagine a reason they would be travelling officially with friends, unless they were officials as well.

Senator RHIANNON: I understand that AMSA is responsible for monitoring flagged vessels compliant with safety and environment protection standards, including the safe carriage of livestock as cargo. Is that correct?
Mr Prosser : That is correct.
Senator RHIANNON: Under the Australian standards for the export of livestock, who is responsible for on-board ship inspections of livestock vessels in Western Australian ports?

CHAIR: Senator Rhiannon.
Senator RHIANNON: Professor McMillan, why do you work at home? Were you refused an office in Canberra?