Rachel Siewert (WA, Australian Greens) Share this | Hansard source

by leave—On behalf of the Greens, I would like to add our support for the committee system. People in this place will know that I have been heavily involved with the committee system and that I have chaired some of those committees. I would also particularly like to give a call out to the secretariat staff of all the committees. They just work and work and work. They never say no; maybe sometimes they should learn to say no. They are just fantastic supports and they are endlessly polite with our endless requests.

I'd also like to note the outcomes of those Senate inquiries. Committee inquiries have very significant outcomes. Not only do they expose things sometimes; they also enable the community to become part of this place, and that's why I think they're so important. They allow the community to comment on legislation. The committees look at legislation, drill down into legislation and enable community and broader Australia to see how this place operates and to comment on what we do. The reference committees in particular are where the community really gets to participate. They actually get to suggest things to us: 'Why don't you inquire into this?' That is such an important role of committees.

Think about the committee reports that led to the apology to forgotten Australians and the apology to those affected by forced adoptions. They are just two things that immediately spring to mind, but there have been many, many more. It is a vital part of what we do in this place. So thank you, Mr President, for reminding us of this anniversary. It's a vital and continuing part of the work of this place.