Helen Polley (Tasmania, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Aged Care) Share this | Hansard source

Last year, the Senate agreed to temporarily amend the standing orders to allow any senator to ask a minister why a response had not been provided in time for the Scrutiny of Bills Committee. Since this came into effect this year, the committee has noticed a significant improvement in the timeliness of responses. The temporary order is due to expire in March 2018. This motion seeks to make these changes apply on an ongoing basis. The committee's view is that the temporary order has significantly assisted it in its scrutiny work and that the standing orders should be amended on an ongoing basis. I urge all senators to adopt this recommendation.

Question agreed to.