Bob Brown (Tasmania, Australian Greens) Share this | Hansard source

Senator Siewert moved to remove part (b) of this motion, which would have meant that, on every subsequent occasion when the Senate Education, Employment and Workplace Relations Legislation Committee met, the president would have to appear. We think that that could not be supported. The Greens support the president being required to appear at the additional estimates in 2010, and we suggest that the opposition comes back with that amendment. I note that the opposition has not supported the Governor of the Reserve Bank being brought before the Senate for certain matters to be discussed and that there is an inconsistency there. That aside, we think it is prescriptive to lay down that on every occasion this committee meets to consider estimates the president should appear. We think we can be much more judicious and we would support the opposition coming back with the alternative motion—just part (a).