Senate debates Committees
Appropriations, Staffing and Security Committee; Membership
Sarah Hanson-Young SA, Australian Greens
4:11 pm
I move:
That—
(a) the Senate notes that:
(i) standing order 19(4) provides that the Standing Committee on Appropriations, Staffing and Security consists of 8 senators, including '3 other senators not being members of the government party' and that 'in the absence of agreement between the opposition and any minority groups or independent senators as to nominations, any question as to representation shall be determined by the Senate', and
(ii) agreement was not reached prior to the appointment of non-government senators to the committee on 22 July 2025; and
(b) Senators Askew, Duniam and McKenzie be discharged from the committee to enable negotiations to be held in relation to the appointment of non-government senators to the committee.
Paul Scarr Queensland, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Immigration
by leave—I move the following amendments:
Omit paragraph (a)(ii), substitute:
(ii) Senator Askew was duly appointed by the Senate because the Greens failed to lodge their committee membership letter in time;
(iii) Labor and the Greens have done a secret deal to add a senator from the Greens to this committee; and
Paragraph (b), omit "Senators Askew, Duniam and McKenzie", substitute "notwithstanding the above, Senator Askew".
Katy Gallagher ACT, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Public Service
I seek leave to make a short statement.
Katy Gallagher ACT, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Public Service
I just want to record that I think it's a deep shame that we are at the point that we are, where this is coming to the Senate for resolution. The standing orders provide for three non-government senators to be members of the appropriations committee. There had been discussions about having a Greens nomination on this committee. That was not accepted by the opposition and now we are where we are. I encourage everyone across the Senate to do what we do all the time, which is to negotiate outcomes and settle matters before they need to be brought to the Senate, as this has been and as a motion Senator Pocock will be moving later today will be. There are forms in this place where we negotiate and then we reach agreement, because it is a minority chamber. It appears to me that those opposite need to understand that that's the way it's going to work here or we will crunch you like we are crunching today.
Sarah Hanson-Young SA, Australian Greens
The Greens will not be supporting this amendment from the opposition. We sought to resolve this matter outside the chamber and the opposition arrogantly refused. Well, now you're going to experience what happens when you aren't in control—because you do not control this chamber. The crossbench do have a right—
Sue Lines President
Senator Hanson-Young, I have Senator Scarr on his feet.
Paul Scarr Queensland, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Immigration
President, on a point of order, the senator should be directing her comments through you as President, especially when she's speaking in such a hostile, aggressive manner.
Sue Lines President
I remind Senator Hanson-Young to make her comments to me.
Sarah Hanson-Young SA, Australian Greens
Thank you, Madam President. It seems that the nerves are touchy on the other side. Through you, Madam President, I say to the opposition: you're hardly even an opposition at the moment. You're split; you're a rabble. At the very least, ensuring that the crossbench can have a say and a role on these types of committees is important.
Paul Scarr Queensland, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Immigration
Is she finished?
Paul Scarr Queensland, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Immigration
Actually, I rose to seek leave to make a short statement.
Honourable senators interjecting—
Sue Lines President
Senators, order! I'm running the chamber. Senator Hanson-Young has 11 seconds remaining. Please only stand if you have a point of order.
Sarah Hanson-Young SA, Australian Greens
Again, what they are displaying is that they are a rabble—rabble, rabble. They're a mess. They're hardly even an opposition. They don't deserve three seats on this committee.
Paul Scarr Queensland, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Immigration
4:14 pm
Given that Senator Hanson-Young has made a statement, I seek leave to make a very short statement.
Paul Scarr Queensland, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Immigration
I should advise those listening to this debate that the issue arose because my good friend Senator Askew was duly appointed by the Senate because the Greens failed to lodge their committee membership letter in time. They failed to do their homework, and Labor and the Greens have done a secret deal to add a senator from the Greens to this committee. But, notwithstanding the above, in order to progress the matter we're simply seeking that the Greens' motion, which would seek to purge my three colleagues Senator Askew, Senator Duniam and Senator McKenzie, be amended so that only Senator Askew would leave the committee. That seems a very reasonable amendment from our perspective.
Honourable senators interjecting—
Sue Lines President
Order, senators!
Order, Senator Colbeck! I called you to order.
Sue Lines President
Senator Pocock, a moment, please. Leave is granted for one minute.
Paul Scarr Queensland, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Immigration
No-one's going to crunch you, David!
David Pocock ACT, Independent
In all seriousness, I just wanted to make a short statement given we're talking about the way that committees have been negotiated. I just make the point that the Greens are half the crossbench and yet, if you look at the committees and what went down the other day, the Greens are basically all of the committee members and got every single committee membership that they wanted. When the rest of the crossbench said, 'Hey, I'd just like to be on one committee to be able to contribute to the Senate given I'm an elected senator,' there was a deal done between Labor and the Greens and, as we saw in the votes, that's how it rolled out. So I appreciate what they're saying on this one, but I think it has to work both ways when you want to talk about the crossbench.
Sue Lines President
Senator Thorpe, you are out of order. The question is that the amendment moved by Senator Scarr be agreed to. I believe the noes have it.
Paul Scarr Queensland, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Immigration
The ayes have it.
Sue Lines President
I only heard your voice, Senator Scarr. There need to be two voices, and you know that. With the indulgence of the Senate, I will recommit the vote. The question is that the amendment moved by Senator Scarr be agreed to.
Sue Lines President
4:27 pm
The question is that general business notice of motion No. 61, standing in the name of Senator Hanson-Young, be agreed to.