COMMITTEES

Senator GALLAGHER (Australian Capital Territory—Minister for Finance, Minister for the Public Service, Minister for Women, Minister for Government Services and Manager of Government Business in the Senate) (16:11): I seek leave to make a short statement. The PRESIDENT: Leave is granted for one minute. Senator GALLAGHER: I just want to record that I think it's a deep shame that we are at the point that we are, where this is coming to the Senate for resolution.

The standing orders provide for three non-government senators to be members of the appropriations committee. There had been discussions about having a Greens nomination on this committee. That was not accepted by the opposition and now we are where we are.

I encourage everyone across the Senate to do what we do all the time, which is to negotiate outcomes and settle matters before they need to be brought to the Senate, as this has been and as a motion Senator Pocock will be moving later today will be. There are forms in this place where we negotiate and then we reach agreement, because it is a minority chamber.

It appears to me that those opposite need to understand that that's the way it's going to work here or we will crunch you like we are crunching today.