Katy Gallagher (ACT, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Finance) Share this | Hansard source

by leave—Labor will be supporting this motion. We're pleased that the government has listened to representations from Labor and others in this chamber about the importance of locking in sitting weeks and getting back to work as the rest of the country does. People, I would urge you to bring your thermal gear with you for most of August, by the look of it!

In relation to budget estimates, I think there are some challenges around convening estimates in the way that we would normally do for a budget period, in terms of the duration, the number of people in rooms and things like that. We've experienced some of those challenges ourselves with the Select Committee on COVID-19. At this point in time, we are happy with the way the government has put forward the plan to have the full two weeks of estimates following the handing down of the budget. Also, I thank the government and acknowledge its assistance with travel for senators and members coming from other places around Australia. It really does help people get here and return home in the most COVID-safe way possible.

Question agreed to.