Christine Milne (Tasmania, Australian Greens) Share this | Hansard source

It certainly is true that the National Party is a minor party. If that is how they wish to describe themselves, well and good—and the Australian Greens outpoll them all over the country—but I do not think that is relevant to the point I make in terms of representation on Senate committees. In fact, the opposition parties are represented on all Senate committees, as they should be, but the minor parties and Independents are not represented on the Privileges Committee. That is why I am arguing that the Privileges Committee ought to come into line with all the other Senate committees and have representation from the crossbenches.

I think it is particularly important that we have this matter settled, because it would not be appropriate that we go to an election with a temporary order in place with a view to it lapsing without making a decision about permanency. I would like to hear from anyone who says that democracy is not well served by having representation from the crossbenches on the Privileges Committee. It would be grossly unfair if it were deemed that the Privileges Committee were the plaything of the two old parties.

Senator Joyce interjecting—

It is interesting; the lack of courtesy that is being extended by the likes of Senator Joyce just gives you an idea of the born-to-rule mentality that exists in this parliament.

Opposition senators interjecting—

It is most unfortunate that members of the opposition cannot extend other people the courtesy of being able to be heard in silence, which the standing orders require. Having said that, I think it is important that we settle this matter, that we change the membership of the Privileges Committee on a permanent basis so that we end up with a fair representation which shows that the crossbench has a percentage of members in this place and that that percentage of members needs to be represented in all of the Senate committees.

Opposition senators interjecting—