Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Faruqi, Senator Cash was also standing, so she gets precedence.

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

I seek leave to move a motion relating to the reinstatement of cross-portfolio Indigenous matters hearings as circulated.

Leave not granted.

Well, here we go again, colleagues. Seriously! Mr Albanese, the Prime Minister of Australia, through his representatives—

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Cash, you need to move the suspension motion.

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

I move the motion. And, as I was saying, Mr Albanese, through his representatives in the Australian Senate, treats this place, quite frankly, as a shop floor. They run it as if they are the big union and we are a small business.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Sorry, Senator Cash. Senator McAllister, you're on your feet.

Jenny McAllister (NSW, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the National Disability Insurance Scheme) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I'm unclear about the motion that Senator Cash is moving.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

It's a suspension motion. Senator Cash sought leave. Leave wasn't granted, and so Senator Cash has now moved a suspension.

I'm sorry, Senator Cash. I think Senator McKim is—

Nick McKim (Tasmania, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

No, sorry.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senators, I'm trying to give Senator Cash a fair go. If you're not objecting, please don't stand. Senator Hanson-Young?

Sarah Hanson-Young (SA, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I'm wondering whether there is a copy of the original—

An honourable senator interjecting—

It hasn't been circulated.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

It's been circulated electronically, and I believe it's being circulated as we speak. Third time lucky, Senator Cash.

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

Pursuant to contingent notion of motion standing in my name, I move:

That so much of the standing orders be suspended as would prevent me from moving a motion to provide for the consideration of a matter, namely a motion to give precedence to a motion related to the reinstatement of cross-portfolio Indigenous matters.

Here we go again. This is a government that will do everything, particularly in partnership with the Australian Greens, to shut down questions. This is not leadership. This is arrogance—nothing more and nothing less—contempt for the parliament and contempt for the Australian people. When a prime minister deliberately shuts down scrutiny, he is not just silencing senators. We are actually here representing our states. We are here representing the Australian people. We are here on their behalf asking questions in relation to one of the biggest portfolio expenditure items on the government's agenda.

I have to say that I'm very disappointed with Labor, and, in particular, with the hypocrisy of the Leader of the Government in the Senate, Senator Wong. Senator Wong is always ready to lecture the coalition and even Senator Jacinta Nampijinpa-Price on what she should think and say on Indigenous issues. Yet, when the government are pushed to vote on a matter, in relation to whether or not we should proceed with Indigenous affairs cross-portfolio matters, they shut it down as fast as they can.

Senator Wong, as the Leader of the Government in the Senate, is happy and quick with the pontification, quick with the sanctimony and quick to tell others about how their views are legitimate or illegitimate. But when it comes to real accountability—that is what Senate estimates is; it's the one opportunity that we on the opposition benches get to actually question the government about their programs—and when it comes to facing hard questions about the failures of Indigenous service delivery and the outcomes on the ground for children, families and communities, suddenly Senator Wong and her counterparts fall silent. They go further than that. They're not silent; they actually vote to remove the ability of the Australian Senate and the opposition to ask questions in relation to this portfolio. Labor are happy to talk down any of those who dare to disagree.

With what they did last week, they have now shown the Australian people they will not front up to scrutiny on the facts. That is the real display that is on show here. Every family in Australia pays their taxes. Every community that depends on outcomes, in this important portfolio in particular, and every citizen who expects honesty from their government expects the opposition and those on the crossbench to hold the government to account in relation to these portfolio issues. Mr Albanese and the government, teaming up with the Greens—don't even start me on the Australian Greens and their hypocrisy. If they ever speak on Indigenous matters again, Senator Liddle, they deserved to be closed down immediately. Quite frankly, they're happy to leave this place, run out to the press and do a press conference, but when they come in here, they're happy to ensure that no questions are asked in relation to what is actually going on in Indigenous communities.

This is the attitude of Mr Albanese. This is it in 2025, everybody. You got a majority; yes, you did, but guess what? Answers still matter. Accountability still matters. Your ministers still need to front up and open the books and let us ask questions. But, for Mr Albanese, this is the way the Australian parliament now runs. He has told the Australian people that their right to answers does not matter. That is a sign of contempt, pure and simple—nothing more and nothing less There is the opportunity now for the government to say: 'Guess what? We know that accountability is not a slogan. We know that it's the lifeblood of democracy.' Estimates is the cornerstone of that accountability. When governments fear questions, they fear the people who ask them. When the Senate demands scrutiny, it serves the people who sent us here. So let's all vote for scrutiny.

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

The government will not be supporting the suspension or the motion that's being moved by Senator Cash. I think it says a lot that the first item of business today demonstrates that the opposition is unable to actually work with the customs and norms of this place to resolve some of these issues.

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

You trashed them!

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

Well, no, Senator Cash. This is all about the way the opposition behaves and the fact that you are on a fast track to having zero influence in how issues are managed in this chamber. The Senate agreed to the sitting pattern earlier this term; I think it was earlier this year. It was agreed to. That set out the supplementary estimates week and was agreed to. Subsequent to this, there was a desire to have additional estimates days, which have been provided. We've provided an additional four days from 1 to 4 December—so a full additional week. There will be more estimates days this year because of the decisions the Senate took last week. The government is more than happy to front up and go through an additional week—not that you would understand that judging by the presentation of the Leader of the Opposition in the Senate just before.

Anne Ruston (SA, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Health and Aged Care) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Don't be condescending!

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order!

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

I'm sure Senator Ruston might be given the opportunity to say a few words, if she's given permission by her party, rather than interjecting on everything I say. Get your five minutes and speak to it.

On the matter, I do appreciate the opposition's interest in Closing the Gap and cross-portfolio day. It is this government's view that it is every minister's responsibility and every department's responsibility to be accountable for the work that they are doing on Closing the Gap. It should be part of every committee's hearing, which is why there are an additional three days, Senator Cash, for you to pursue Closing the Gap through Legal and Constitutional Affairs, through F&PA, through Economics, through Community Affairs, through Rural and Regional and through Education and Employment—all of those. You name it. Turn up and ask the questions over the entire allocation of estimates. This new-found interest by the Leader of the Opposition—

Honourable senators interjecting—

The:

Order! Senator Cash was heard in silence. That same respect needs to be shown to Minister Gallagher. Minister, please continue.

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

Now, we believe, Closing the Gap is not the Minister for Indigenous Affairs' responsibility. It is not.

Honourable senators interjecting—

It is one of her responsibilities. It is the entire government's responsibility to ensure that we are making progress against closing the gap.

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

That's a great video!

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order!

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

Senator Cash, you're after a video. We're actually about closing the gap and pursuing it through all of the committees. The Minister for Indigenous Affairs leads that work, but all of us have responsibility. I have responsibility for Closing the Gap in my portfolio. The Minister for Health and Ageing has responsibility for Closing the Gap in his portfolio. It is the view of the government that, in addition to providing extra estimates days for the first week of December, after this parliament was due to rise, we can have another full week of estimates. If Senator Cash and her colleagues want to pursue any matter through those committees, that is open to them on those four additional days. This is in addition to the normal scheduling of supplementary budget estimates. We do not believe that cross-portfolio day is the only day that you can ask questions about the Murray-Darling. We think you should be able to ask questions about the Murray-Darling through the scheduled sitting days, and it's the same for Closing the Gap. Those matters can and should be pursued through individual committees, where ministers are responsible for them—and the Minister for Indigenous Affairs, of course, leads that work. The result of last week is that we have an extra estimates week, Senator Cash, so all of your arguments about transparency and all of that are just nonsense because there are extra estimates days.

You may not want to work on those days, or to come for that extra week, but you can be guaranteed the government will be here, ready and willing to answer all of the questions.

Kerrynne Liddle (SA, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Indigenous Australians) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Here's a bit of truth-telling: cross-portfolio day is a day to interrogate these critical issues. The Northern Territory, right now, is the worst performing place for your policies and their impact on Indigenous Australians. You have three members in this parliament from the Northern Territory. There have been 17 years of cross-portfolio estimates work, and you decide, when we're seeing the greatest failure in Indigenous Australians' portfolio areas, to axe the cross-portfolio days. It is bad enough that that day is truncated. For people out there in the Australian community: Indigenous Australians cross-portfolio day starts at 9 am and is over by 5 pm—unlike days for the other portfolio days, that sometimes go until 10 o'clock at night. They used to go to 11 o'clock. It is truncated across so many different areas. So many people come in that we can't get to them all, so eventually they have to go home.

This Labor government is actually about announcements, not accountability, and there's certainly no transparency in removing the cross-portfolio day. This is at a time when we see closing the gap going in the wrong direction—not just going in the wrong direction; going in the wrong direction under Labor's watch. Since 2022 youth detention is up 11 per cent, suicide is up 9.4 per cent, adult incarceration is up 3.4 per cent, preschool attendance is down 2.6 per cent, and 1.2 per cent fewer children are commencing school developmentally on track. I think that calls for greater scrutiny. I think that calls for greater time, not less time and not less opportunity. It calls for practical action over symbolism. It calls for action over announcements. It calls for greater scrutiny not just of the Labor government, its policies and how they've contributed to this terrible outcome but also of the bureaucrats and the programs that are delivered.

Recently I travelled to regional and remote Western Australia and the Northern Territory, visiting the Kimberley, Darwin and Katherine—that includes Broome, Wyndham and Kununurra—and I saw and heard of countless examples of the duplication of services where there is desperate need, and of programs that aren't delivering any change for Indigenous Australians. ORIC itself, the regulator, came out and defended the 1,254 Indigenous organisations that have failed to meet their reporting obligations for the 2023-24 financial year. That's under your watch, Labor. You've failed to enforce mandatory minimum requirements under the Indigenous procurement policy, the coalition's landmark Indigenous procurement policy for government contracts. That's your handiwork, Labor. What are you trying to cover up? According to the ANAO, only one in five government contracts is monitored for compliance with the IPP, and only one-quarter of those are compliant. You need to answer those questions.

The Prime Minister held events spruiking his Indigenous economic empowerment agenda—of course, largely consulting with people who've spent most of their lives in the public sector or in organisations that are paid for by the government purse. We didn't see anywhere near enough private sector companies or representatives, even though two-thirds of the people running successful Indigenous businesses are not even part of Supply Nation. This is under your watch.

When there are record insolvencies in this country and Indigenous businesses are struggling, we want to know what you've done and are doing to help them—not coming up with the next grand, big idea of economic development. The four targets going in the wrong direction are not actually about that. We want to talk about what you are doing about the drivers for those four targets. What you did on Friday actually made sure there is less capacity for scrutiny. Shame on you.

Malarndirri McCarthy (NT, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Indigenous Australians) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank the Senate for their support in closing the gap. In fact, I thank the opposition for showing some interest—in particular, the Leader of the Opposition in the Senate. It's interesting that I met with Attorneys-General across Australia, and the two jurisdictions that are the worst in terms of incarceration rates in the country are the Northern Territory and Queensland.

I would say to members opposite: speak to your colleagues. Work with me in trying to reduce the incarceration rates in this country of both First Nations adults and First Nations youth. There have been 11- and 12-year-olds in remand in the watch houses. Nearly 50 per cent of the prison—

Bridget McKenzie (Victoria, National Party, Shadow Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

What are you hiding?

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator McKenzie, Senator Liddle was heard in silence. There were no interjections and that same respect applies to Minister McCarthy. If you can't uphold that respect, please leave the chamber.

Malarndirri McCarthy (NT, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Indigenous Australians) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Nearly 50 per cent of prisoners in the Northern Territory are on remand. They haven't even had their day in court. And where have been the voices of members opposite? Where have been the voices of members opposite while there have been deaths occurring in the prison system across Australia—most recently, there has been the news this morning out of Western Australia. Where have been the voices of those opposite?

They talk about closing the gap. I say work with me. I am trying to do exactly that, but, as Senator Gallagher said, this is a whole-of-government approach, and that's why I want to see every single parliamentary committee in the Senate and every single minister around the cabinet table of this parliament answer those very questions that I don't have direct responsibility for. The Closing the Gap targets focus on housing, health, out-of-home care, the high rates of removal of our children and justice issues. Where appropriate, those questions need to go to the Attorney-General. I thank the Senate. I thank the Greens for their support in this. When we have greater scrutiny of Closing the Gap targets across every ministerial portfolio, guess what that does?

Pauline Hanson (Queensland, Pauline Hanson's One Nation Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Nothing!

Malarndirri McCarthy (NT, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Indigenous Australians) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

It brings accountability, Senator Hanson. You have shown no interest whatsoever, so I don't think I'll speak with you on this matter, but I will say this: for those who are genuinely interested in seeing improvement in First Nations people's lives in this country, then work with me. This decision comes about because we need greater scrutiny. I have called on every cabinet across every parliament who have signed up to the Closing the Gap agreement. It's been five years. So of course we've got to insist that every single cabinet across Australia and every minister that sits around those cabinet tables is responsible. When the joint council meets and I sit with Pat Turner, the leader of the Coalition of Peaks, on this, we call on the Indigenous affairs ministers in every jurisdiction to work with their colleagues, and it's the same in this parliament. We need to make sure that every minister, every cabinet secretary and every bureaucrat that works behind them is questioned appropriately on these targets—

Anne Ruston (SA, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Health and Aged Care) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

We want to scrutinise you!

Malarndirri McCarthy (NT, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Indigenous Australians) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

so if you are that interested, and I am very pleased to hear you are, then work with me on this and we will start to see major changes in the systemic issues that are impacting our outcomes in Closing the Gap.

Pauline Hanson (Queensland, Pauline Hanson's One Nation Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I've been trying to listen to this debate and, in all fairness, what I do believe is that it should be as it is. This should be raised at Senate estimates so people can ask questions of the ministers and departments. There are grave concerns about what is happening, and if you want accountability then you must be responsible to questions put forward by all political parties and Independents.

The amount of money that is spent on the Aboriginal affairs department is over $30 billion a year. We've got 1,258 Aboriginal corporations that have not reported to ORIC. There is no accountability. We have had corruption, and I've raised in this parliament about a person who has dealt with the aged care who was found to be corrupt. There is not enough accountability. Actually, I attended a meeting with the minister, Malarndirri, and it was supposed to be open discussion there. The minister hardly spoke at all. It was Pat Turner, from the Coalition of Peaks, who actually did all the talking. The minister couldn't answer all the questions. This is a minister that, I believe, is not doing her job properly to represent those Aboriginals.

During the problems that we have, closing the gap has been a huge, big issue. What have they done now? They've closed the gap on only four out of 19 issues. We constantly hear about the incarceration. We hear about people who do not attend schooling. We hear about the domestic violence. We hear about the sexual abuse of children. This has been going on for years, not only under this government but also under the previous government. I've been speaking about it for the last 30 years, but nothing's changed, nothing's happening.

I come across Aboriginals who are crying out, who want that assistance, want that help. But you're not listening to them. It's all closed shop. You're taking it from the elites—those people who want to claim they are Indigenous. Really? Are they truly Indigenous? Are they truly representing the true Indigenous people out there? You've got your voice in parliament here with the 11 members of parliament who claim to be Indigenous. But are you really representing the average Aboriginal out there that lives in remote and regional areas? Are you getting them the funding? It doesn't appear that way. What's happening is it's getting worse. You have no answers to it. You won't be accountable to the Australian people for the money that is put into this Aboriginal industry. You now have the activists. Although the Australian people have voted against the Voice, you are now pushing—

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Hanson, please resume your seat. Senator Wong?

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

On a point of order, I did give Senator Hanson the courtesy, and I'd ask—

Well, Senator, thank you; I will remember that. I gave you the courtesy.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Hanson, please continue.

Pauline Hanson (Queensland, Pauline Hanson's One Nation Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I—

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! Senator Hanson, please resume your seat. Senators Wong and Ruston, I've asked you to come to order. Senator Hanson.

Pauline Hanson (Queensland, Pauline Hanson's One Nation Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My concern is for the Aboriginal people, those kids that are not getting the education. We find that now their educational level is going up to six or seven and then they're dropping out. We're not preparing them for the future as well. Why do we pay people? Why did you get rid of the card? That was actually working. But as soon as Labor got in you got rid of it. Now you've got an organisation—they have not accepted the decision by the Australian people to get rid of the Voice. They are now organising to keep that going. You've got treaties, division that's happening in Australia. Why? It's because you won't stand up to and acknowledge the problem that is happening. I've never seen so much division happening in Australia as under this government. We never had it before. It's just escalated. And the hatred that was out there—you talk about incarceration. If you commit the crime then you've got to actually be punished for it. Talk to the kids about resilience.

Through the chair: the minister laughs about this. The minister thinks it's a joke. It's not a joke. These people's lives are being destroyed. But you have to be accountable. The parents don't send the kids to schools. You're setting them up for failure, and that's a problem that's happening there—the sexual abuse that goes on. What's done about it? Nothing, because you can't do anything about it, because you're going to be called a racist.

When are we going to wake up to ourselves in this place, to treat everyone equally on an individual needs basis and not based on what race you are? That is what's divisive in this nation. We are all Australians together, whether you migrated or whether you were born here. When are we going to get over the fact that you've got be Indigenous or non-Indigenous? We're dividing this nation, our land, and the people in this place are responsible for that.

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I first disassociate both myself personally and also the Australian Labor Party from that divisive, illogical and incorrect contribution to this chamber. On that note, I move:

That the question be now put.

Question agreed to.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The question is that the motion as moved by Senator Cash to suspend standing orders be agreed to.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senators, you'll recall that, earlier this morning, Senators Faruqi and Cash stood at the same time. I indicated I would give precedence to Senator Cash, and now I intend to give precedence to Senator Faruqi. I understand Senator McKenzie has sent a motion around. I have taken advice from the clerks, and, because it's gone side to side, it is appropriate to give the call to Senator Faruqi. Senator Cash?

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

In relation to the ruling, can I ask you to take it away formally and come back to the chamber. Senator Bridget McKenzie is a party leader. A party leader would normally have precedence over someone who is not a party leader and just a senator. I would like you to take that on notice and report back to the Senate.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Cash, I did indicate I had already sought advice from the Clerk, but I am happy to go back to the Clerk. I had sought advice from the Clerk. That is what I was advised. So I am giving the call to Senator Faruqi.

Mehreen Faruqi (NSW, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

President, will I seek the call later.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you, Senator Faruqi. Senator McKenzie.

Bridget McKenzie (Victoria, National Party, Shadow Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank you, Senator Faruqi, for that consideration. I seek leave to move a motion.

Leave not granted.

Pursuant to contingent notice standing in my name, as leader of the National Party, I move:

That so much of the standing orders be suspended as would prevent me moving a motion to provide for the consideration of a matter, namely a motion to give precedence to a motion relating to the reinstatement of the cross-portfolio hearing into the Murray-Darling Basin Plan matters.

Here we stand again. The Labor Party is using their numbers, in partnership with the Greens political party, to diminish the Australian Senate, to diminish Senate estimates, one of the key components of our ability as a parliament and as a people to hold whoever's in government to account.

I heard the Manager of Government Business in the Senate, in her contribution to Senator Cash, say: 'Well, it's alright. Steady on. We've got December estimates, everyone. You'll get your chance.' Well, the reality is that that once again shows that the Labor Party don't understand regional Australia, have no idea about water policy and, indeed, fundamentally want to avoid scrutiny of how they've handled the water portfolio in their time in government.

The reason that we have cross-portfolio days is that opposition senators and crossbench senators go to the environment department, the health department, the Treasury department and the finance department and ask their questions, and they're told: 'We don't deal with that. You'll have to go over here or you'll have to go over there.' The reason we had cross-portfolio is that those senators that are interested in the sustainability of the Murray-Darling Basin, its river systems, its communities and the industries that underpin the economics of the Murray-Darling Basin were able to ensure relevant scrutiny.

Over 2½ million people live in the Murray-Darling Basin. Since the Murray-Darling Basin Plan has been in place, we've seen industry decimated and negative environmental impacts. In my own home state of Victoria, rushing flow through particularly the Barmah Choke has seen bank degradation and trees dying en masse because we're more interested in the number of gigalitres that go down the Murray than we are in assessing environmental impact. What we now know, a decade after the plan, is that if we put less water down, more slowly, we would get better environmental impacts. But the Labor Party and the Greens don't care about the environmental, social or economic impacts of their water policy, because it's a bit like their approach to the live sheep trade in Western Australia: it's all about winning votes for Sarah Hanson-Young in Adelaide, for NSW and Victorian senators in Melbourne and Sydney and for Tanya Plibersek and others to hold inner-city seats in Sydney. That is the reality of the Labor and the Greens' approach to the Murray-Darling Basin.

That one day of cross-portfolio allowed us to not only get questions on why you're pursuing buy-backs from unwilling sellers—I like how you call them 'willing sellers' when they are broke because of the Labor party's policies. Why are you pursuing buy-backs when farmers have told you they don't want them, when in my own state of Victoria your own Labor ministers are saying we don't support federal Labor's approach?

What we've seen in the last 10 years is you've gone to where the secure water entitlements are—they are in the highly managed state of Victoria—and you've purchased our water. You've created a swiss-cheese effect right throughout dairy and country, in particular in central-north Victoria, and we have now seen manufacturing jobs in the dairy industry at risk because the litreage in our dairy farms of northern Victoria are dropping. Why? It's not because we don't know how to farm, not because farmers aren't able to innovate and not because we're in severe drought or floods; it's because of the federal Labor Party's water policy.

If you've got your own Labor Party ministers in Victoria saying, 'You are going down the wrong track,' our responsibility as crossbenchers and as opposition senators is to hold the government to account for their policy decisions, to hold the Murray-Darling Basin Authority—this unelected agency, whose own decisions fly in the face of good social, economic and environment policy—to account. Shame on the Labor Party for cancelling— (Time expired)

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

I move:

That the question be now put.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The question is that the motion as moved by Senator Gallagher for closure be agreed to.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The question is that the suspension motion moved by Senator McKenzie be agreed to.