Katy Gallagher (ACT, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Public Service) Share this | Hansard source

I welcome the opportunity to say a few words on this. I think others have spoken about the fact that this chamber largely works by cooperating across the chamber—not that a lot of people see it. No single party has the numbers, and no individual senator can deliver a particular outcome. So, from the minute we start to the minute we adjourn, there are a whole range of agreements that are reached, usually outside of the floor as we talk across all of the offices. That's the only way the Senate can truly function. We don't talk about it often, because it isn't demonstrated on the floor, but that's how the place works. Last week, that was fractured, and we are seeing the results of that now.

The Briggs report—I'm trying to keep within the motion, and the Briggs report is relevant because it triggered the fracture that played out on Thursday and is playing out again today. That report will be released, as I have said a number of times, but it won't be released until the cabinet has finished its consideration of it.