Jane Hume (Victoria, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for the Public Service) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister representing the Treasurer, Senator Gallagher. Was the Treasurer briefed by Treasury on the policy views of Danielle Wood prior to her appointment as chair of the Productivity Commission, and if so on what date?

Katy Gallagher (ACT, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Public Service) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I welcome the opportunity to congratulate Danielle Wood as the first female leader of the Productivity Commission when she takes up that role. I will have to come back to Senator Hume if there's anything further that I can add, but I understand there was a full merit selection process which was undertaken for that appointment, and the Treasurer would have been briefed on that. It is an exciting opportunity to have Ms Wood take up that role. It's an important institution. It's an institution that the Treasurer is keen to invest in so that we can continue to get good advice from that body, particularly with the productivity challenges that have been apparent in this economy for over a decade now and some of the work that needs to be done to make sure that we are lifting productivity and enhancing living standards.

There was a full merit process. The Treasurer would have been briefed on that. She is a fine candidate who brings a wealth of experience and expertise, including a stint at the Productivity Commission at an earlier time in her career. I look forward to working with Ms Wood, as are all members of the government, and I hope that people in the—

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Hume, a point of order?

Jane Hume (Victoria, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for the Public Service) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

A point of order on direct relevance. The question was whether the Treasurer had been briefed by Treasury on the policy views of Ms Wood prior to her appointment, not the merit selection process.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I believe the minister is being relevant. She said she will take that part of the question on notice. I'll leave that to the Minister.

Katy Gallagher (ACT, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Public Service) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I said I would come back if there was anything further I could advise on. I did indicate that there was a full merit process where candidates were interviewed. Normally as part of that process, an interview panel would have gone to an applicant's career. In this area there are people who have produced publications and been involved in policy debates. I have no doubt that through a merit process all of those matters would have been raised. She is a standout candidate, an excellent candidate, and she will be a first-rate leader of the Productivity Commission and the government looks forward to working with her.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Hume, a first supplementary question?

Jane Hume (Victoria, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for the Public Service) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Has the Treasurer ever had a conversation with Ms Wood about tax in Australia, and if so on what date? Did the discussion include inheritance taxes?

Katy Gallagher (ACT, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Public Service) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I can't stand here and answer to every conversation, or have insight into every conversation that the Treasurer has had with anyone, including Ms Wood. I would hope that her appointment to this senior position in the economic portfolio would be welcomed by those opposite. She is a serious candidate with a serious CV and an incredible level of achievement in the roles that she has held, and I would have hoped that this chamber would have seen the opportunity to congratulate her in this role.

The government don't form the view that we have to agree with every position that individuals may hold. If Ms Wood has positions that she holds that may differ from the government, that is entirely reasonable.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Hume is there a point of order?

Jane Hume (Victoria, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for the Public Service) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Yes, a point of order on direct relevance. If the minister doesn't know the answer, I would very much appreciate it if she would go away and come back to the chamber with an answer. She can take that on notice. She did say she didn't have an answer. She can take that on notice.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Hume, that is not a point of order. The minister did answer your question. It is not a point of order; it is a debating point. Minister, did you have anything to add?

Katy Gallagher (ACT, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Public Service) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I did answer it straight up. Senator Hume didn't like the answer but I can't answer for every conversation the Treasurer has had. (Time expired)

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Hume, a second supplementary?

Jane Hume (Victoria, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for the Public Service) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Has the Treasurer issued a direction to the Productivity Commission to cease any work on an inheritance tax?

Katy Gallagher (ACT, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Public Service) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Honestly?

Glenn Sterle (WA, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Who writes this crap?

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Sterle, that was inappropriate.

Katy Gallagher (ACT, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Public Service) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Is this really the best you can do midway through a sitting week? Honestly. We have an incredible candidate who has been appointed to a senior job in the economic portfolio, the first time a woman has held it and this is the level of question we get from the opposition. I would say that we intend to take note of the Productivity Commission's reports unlike those opposite, where the decade they were in power had the worst productivity outcomes in 60 years. Get that—60 years. That is what you did. And part of the problem was, every time the Productivity Commission released a report, you ignored it. It sat on the shelf. You didn't even bother responding to it. We look forward to working with Ms Wood. We look forward to her leadership and the skills that she will bring to the economic debates in this country.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Hume, on a point of order?

Jane Hume (Victoria, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for the Public Service) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

On direct relevance. It was a very simple question as to whether the Treasurer has directed the Productivity Commission to rule out an inheritance tax. We did not get an answer.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I will invite the minister in the three seconds remaining if she has anything further to add?

Katy Gallagher (ACT, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Public Service) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

No.