Mitch Fifield (Victoria, Liberal Party, Assistant Minister for Social Services) Share this | Hansard source

I think that there might be a button in the opposition manager's desk that opposition managers of whatever persuasion can hit and we hear a similar contribution.

Senator Moore interjecting—

You are right; I do have a certain charm—thank you, Senator Moore. There is a fundamental difference, though, I think, to the basis upon which the contributions may have been made when I was in that chair compared to Senator Moore, and that is that when the previous government was in office they were routinely seeking to legislate to breach solemn election commitments that they had given. Therefore, it was appropriate that there was a good deal of time given to making that clear to the Australian people. Another important difference is the fact that when the coalition was in opposition we were very cooperative. In fact, some of my coalition colleagues would often chide me for being too cooperative with the government of the day, but we think that it is important that this place works.

We have not seen a great deal of cooperation from those on the opposite side. We have seen some but not nearly the degree that there should be to make this Senate work. So we think that the days that are presented to this chamber for sittings next year should be adequate if there is appropriate cooperation amongst all parties to get the people's business done. If there is a requirement for further sitting weeks, that will be a reflection of the lack of cooperation of those on the other side of the chamber, and I think my colleagues on this side would certainly hold these truths to be self-evident.

We do have a number of additional sitting days which are scheduled. We have tried to step away from the practice in previous years of scheduling sitting weeks in weeks where there are Canberra public holidays, which obviously denies sitting time. So we have sought additional Mondays in this sitting program, and I recognise that Senator Moore has stated that the opposition accept that setting the sitting schedule really is a matter for the government of the day, and I appreciate that very much. But I think it is important to say that this sitting schedule that we have put forward can work as long as there is due cooperation.