Murray Watt (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry) Share this | Hansard source

Thanks, Senator Pocock. As I indicated earlier, we believe that it is appropriate that the government of the day, which does have responsibility for government decisions regarding the commission, such as funding, also holds the role of chair and has the casting vote. But, as I said, it is certainly our intention that appointments to the commission will receive multipartisan support, and that's the way we'll be approaching it.

The CHAIR: The question before the chair is that amendment (1) on sheet 1775, standing in the names of Senators Pocock and Shoebridge, be agreed to.