BUDGET

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) (15:41): I seek leave to make a short statement. The PRESIDENT: Leave is granted for one minute. Senator GALLAGHER: I refer to my previous remarks about an earlier motion.

Essentially, committees are being micromanaged on the floor of the Senate when they should be resolving these matters themselves. That is the normal custom and practice and had been occurring pretty happily. But senators who are asking for additional hours should stay and actually do the hours instead of nicking off early on a Friday night.

Question agreed to.