Chris Evans (WA, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Government in the Senate) Share this | Hansard source

I am a bit surprised that Senator Payne, who has spent the last 15 years working very effectively on committees, would criticise the role of committees in the Australian political environment. The Senate committees are one of the most constructive things the Senate does. The answer to the question is this: we make no apology for having a big agenda. There is a lot to be done. It does not matter whether it is education, health or Indigenous affairs; there is a lot that needs to be done. Sure, COAG has a busy agenda—and long may it be the case because, frankly, federal-state relations in this country under the Howard government were ground down to a point where there was little that was constructive, little that was positive and little in the way of goodwill. We are trying to get goodwill. We are trying to work with the states for much better outcomes for Australia.