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

If there was any offence to any senator, I withdraw.

An opposition senator interjecting—

I have said, 'I withdraw.' I unconditionally withdraw, but I would say that the idea that senators on a committee knew of this and did not advise the chair—I think that seriously damages that committee's ability to do work in the future because the chair had no idea that this was the approach that colleagues he was working on an inquiry with were going to take.

The point I'm making here is: show some respect. The bill's before a committee. The inquiry should be allowed to finish, and the report should be tabled. If people feel passionately, to the point that they want to discharge the legislation, put the motion on notice and deal with it at that point, once the committee has done its work. I think people should seriously consider this before voting.