Doug Cameron (NSW, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Human Services) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, I add my congratulations on your appointment.

My question is to the Minister for Employment, Senator Cash. After failing to attend a supplementary budget estimates spillover hearing of the Senate Employment and Workplace Relations Legislation Committee on 27 October, the minister has refused to make herself available to give evidence to the committee until after parliament rises for the year. Given the gravity of the issues facing the minister, why won't the minister just front up to the committee and come clean?

Michaelia Cash (WA, Liberal Party, Minister for Women) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank Senator Cameron for the question. In relation to the estimates hearing that I—

Scott Ryan (President, Special Minister of State) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! Take your seat, please, momentarily, Senator Cash.

Linda Reynolds (WA, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, I have a possible point of order. I'm just wondering whether Senator Cameron could reflect on his question, because I'm wondering whether it's actually a breach of committee privilege in terms of committee deliberations.

Scott Ryan (President, Special Minister of State) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I will take some counsel on this. Senator Reynolds, whether internal deliberations of the committee are being aired publicly is a matter for the committee to determine, not for me to determine from the chair. So I'll call Senator Cash in response to the question.

Michaelia Cash (WA, Liberal Party, Minister for Women) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you, Mr President. As I was saying, Senator Brandis advised the committee as to why I was unavailable on the Friday. In relation to the next Senate estimates hearing, Senator Cameron, you would be aware the committee itself has determined the date is 8 December.

Scott Ryan (President, Special Minister of State) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Cameron, a supplementary question.

Doug Cameron (NSW, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Human Services) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Why has the minister refused to make herself available on any of the 40 days between 27 October and 6 December? Minister, why are you hiding?

Michaelia Cash (WA, Liberal Party, Minister for Women) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Yet again, I have subjected myself to two estimates hearings, as you'd be aware. There was a third estimates hearing on the Friday and, again, the committee has determined that the next estimates hearing will be held on 8 December, and there are also numerous question times between now and 8 December.

Scott Ryan (President, Special Minister of State) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Final supplementary question, Senator Cameron.

Doug Cameron (NSW, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Human Services) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Labor and Greens senators offered to convene the hearing on any Saturday or Sunday between 3 November and 6 December. Does the minister consider her weekends more precious—

Scott Ryan (President, Special Minister of State) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Reynolds, a point of order.

Linda Reynolds (WA, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I appreciate your previous advice on this matter, and as chair of the committee I will certainly be taking your advice; however, I believe now that Senator Cameron is flagrantly breaching committee-in-confidence deliberations from reading out information that is not—so, I just—

Scott Ryan (President, Special Minister of State) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

There are two issues. My previous advice about it being a matter for a committee to pursue whether there has been a breach, rather than for the chair here, stands. Also, the words I have recorded were that Senator Cameron was referring to Labor and Greens senators. If there's another issue, that is something for the committee to take up.

Doug Cameron (NSW, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Human Services) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Does the minister consider her weekends more precious than those of the 700,000 workers facing cuts to penalty rates, or is the minister simply hiding from the scrutiny and refusing to be accountable to the Senate?

Michaelia Cash (WA, Liberal Party, Minister for Women) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Again, I completely reject the premise of Senator Cameron's question. The committee has determined that the next estimates hearing will be on 8 December. But I have to thank Senator Cameron in relation to the issue on penalty rates.

Honourable Senators:

Honourable senators interjecting—

Scott Ryan (President, Special Minister of State) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! Sorry, Senator Cash, I have Senator O'Sullivan on his feet.

Barry O'Sullivan (Queensland, National Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, I'm one of those senators who hangs on every word of Senator Cash, and I can't hear any of them. I would ask that you rule that the others be quiet while we listen to these very comprehensive answers.

Scott Ryan (President, Special Minister of State) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Again, we've had a second request from a senator who can't hear the answer of a minister, so I'll ask senators to show some courtesy to their colleagues and hear Senator Cash in silence.

Michaelia Cash (WA, Liberal Party, Minister for Women) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

As I was saying, in relation to the issue of penalty rates, Senator Cameron, you are absolutely wrong. The only person in this place as a parliamentarian who has record and form in relation to slashing penalty rates, as you know, is the current Leader of the Opposition, Mr Bill Shorten. You can stand up and say what you like, but when it comes to the shop, distributive and allied union—Senator Don Farrell's favourite union—don't they like to get into bed with big business and do dirty little deals to take away the penalty rates of low-paid workers on Saturdays and Sundays? And what do those on the other side—

Scott Ryan (President, Special Minister of State) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order on my left! I have asked once. It is getting difficult for me to hear. Interjections can have their place, but not a wall of noise that prevents other senators—

Senator O'Neill interjecting—

Order, Senator O'Neill! Interjections have their place; a wall of noise that prevents substantial numbers of senators from hearing a minister's response does not.

Michaelia Cash (WA, Liberal Party, Minister for Women) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Those on the other side are quite happy to come in here and run a protection racket for dishonest union bosses.