Labor's Jacinta Collins was the only senator who properly quizzed ASIO, asking 67 questions. But no Labor senator asked the AFP anything on terrorism. The lack of inquisitiveness comes despite the unprecedented terrorism alert currently facing the nation, with 23 people charged with offences arising from eight counter-terrorism operations since last September when the alert level was raised to "high". Attorney-General George Brandis late last month branded Islamist terrorism "the greatest national security challenge we are likely to face in our lifetimes", while Foreign Minister Julie Bishop has said the Islamic State terror group and like-minded jihadists were a greater threat to world order than communism during the Cold War. The government has passed four tranches of national security legislation in the past eight months, with a fifth being prepared that would strip dual nationals of their citizenship if they engage in terrorism. ASIO, the nation's domestic security agency, was allotted three hours last Thursday for questioning by senators but received just over an hour of their attention.

Committee chairman, Liberal Ian McDonald, asked a handful of clarifying questions arising out of Senator Collins' inquiries but otherwise there was no interrogation by Coalition members. Towards the end of Senator Collins' questioning, about 6.30pm, Queensland National Barry O'Sullivan told the chairman: "Remind her that I am becoming hungry please." Senator Collins replied: "That is not my highest priority." On the same afternoon, the committee had allotted 3½ hours for the AFP but spent just over 90 minutes questioning its officers, who are among the nation's leading counter-terrorism officials. Remind her that I am becoming hungry please

The committee adjourned for the day, 4½ hours earlier than scheduled. By contrast, Coalition and Labor senators during the current estimates hearings asked nine questions on the planned purchase of a Thermomix cooking device for the Governor-General Peter Cosgrove and 29 questions on parking and car park security at Parliament House. Senators also spent more than 30 questions grilling the ACCC over the definition of free-range eggs. Senator Reynolds told Fairfax Media afterwards that Labor had asked only "trivial" questions of ASIO and the AFP. Senator McDonald said later the Coalition was "satisfied with the professionalism of ASIO and the AFP and therefore didn't have any more questions" of them. He said it was up to Labor to ask more questions.

The Coalition has 18 full members or participating members – who can also ask questions – on the Senate legal and constitutional affairs committee, while Labor has 25 members, the Greens nine and other crossbenchers seven. Greens senators and independent Nick Xenophon asked a total of 90 questions of the AFP on a range of subjects including the Bali Nine case – nearly three times the number asked by Labor and the Coalition put together. Follow us on Twitter