Claire Moore (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Women) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I move:

  (1) That the order of the Senate of 4 December 2013 relating to estimates hearings for 2014 be amended as follows:

     2013-14 additional estimates, add:

and, if required, Friday, 28 February (Groups A and B)

     2014-15 budget estimates, add:

and, if required, Friday, 24 October (supplementary hearings—Groups A and B)

  (2) That, for the purposes of that order, an additional hearing of a committee considering estimates is taken to be required where any 3 members of the committee notify the chair of the requirement, in writing.

  (3) That paragraph (2) operate subject to the restriction in standing order 26(3) that not more than 4 committees shall hear evidence on the estimates simultaneously.

Mitch Fifield (Victoria, Liberal Party, Assistant Minister for Social Services) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek leave to make a short statement.

Stephen Parry (Tasmania, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Leave is granted for one minute.

Mitch Fifield (Victoria, Liberal Party, Assistant Minister for Social Services) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

There is more than just a hint of hypocrisy in this motion. Under the Howard government there was provision for spillover days. When the previous Labor government came into office they decided they would dispense with spillover days. In fact, Labor senators adopted very much a work to rule attitude: not one minute of smoko time would ever be encroached upon while Labor were in charge of the Senate estimates process; it was work to rule. If Senator Polley were here, I might make particular reference to her chairing of Senate estimates committees in that regard.

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

She is here.

Mitch Fifield (Victoria, Liberal Party, Assistant Minister for Social Services) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Oh, there she is.

Senator Polley interjecting—

That's right, work to rule. So it is a little ironic and a little hypocritical that the opposition, with their numbers, are now seeking to reintroduce this. For our part, we do not have a particular issue with it, but it is just hypocritical. (Time expired)

Question agreed to.