Jacinta Collins (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Cabinet Secretary) Share this | Hansard source

We had a fairly lengthy discussion—and I recall Senator Carr's remarks—when we first addressed this report. But it is very important, in my view, that we go back to a number of issues.

In addressing another matter, I raised some of the issues around this inquiry and this report. I gave one example, I think, at the time of what a hasty, rushed—and I recall, Mr President, that you were here at the time, because I was relaying to you that I felt that my rights, both as an individual senator and also as the Labor spokesperson in the Senate on electoral matters, had been denied in how this process had occurred. Since that time, we have still not had access to the Department of Finance to discuss important issues around these proposals. I note that Senator Rhiannon is not here now. I am not surprised given the shame the Greens must feel about the process they have colluded on in terms of how this report has occurred. I think I coined it as '101 in parliamentary procedure' when I highlighted that it was the only occasion in which I had participated in a committee inquiry where the relevant department was denied senators who wanted to ask questions of it.

Mr President, you will be aware that, in responding to an order for production, some of the material arrived today. As I understand it, there has been an understanding between our leaders that we will address these issues on the next sitting day. But one element that I will highlight at this stage is a response from the relevant senator on this occasion, Senator Mathias Cormann, in relation to the agreement between the government and the Greens party that forms the basis of the provisions that were addressed by this committee inquiry, making the largest reforms to voting in Australia in 30 years. I have mentioned the haste issues, but I want to spend a moment looking at the nature of this agreement.

It is very disappointing, in fact, that no Greens are represented in the chamber at the moment.