COMMITTEES

Senator WATERS (Queensland—Leader of the Australian Greens) (16:14): I seek leave to make a short statement. The PRESIDENT: Leave is granted for one minute. Senator WATERS: The Senate recently supported my second reading amendment to a private member's bill that called on the government to work with all elected groups and individuals in parliament to develop a fair and independent staffing model for allocating personal staff that reflects the diversity of representation as elected by the Australian people and that addresses staff wellbeing and sustainability of workload.

Politicians' paid entitlements aren't decided by a Senate committee, and staffing levels and welfare shouldn't be, either. The independent PWSS ran a review of staff resourcing and supports, and 500 staff participated in it. That review made 10 key recommendations, and I'm pleased the government has committed to implementing those.

We will be focused on assuring that that occurs in a timely manner. I've written to the SMOS asking for a timetable for implementing that independent resourcing review and asking for PWSS to take note of that second reading amendment. That's the forum through which to progress the important issue of staff workloads and staff wellbeing.

The PRESIDENT: The question is that business of the Senate No. 2, standing in the name of Senator Payman, be agreed to.