Finance and Public Service Minister Katy Gallagher will give a private verbal briefing before the 'jobs for mates' report is tabled. Photo: Michelle Kroll.
Senate Compromise Ends Question Time Chaos
Senators can now breathe a sigh of relief as overblown question times have been temporarily halted. This change comes after a compromise was reached to address the delayed release of the controversial 'jobs for mates' report.
The Report That Caused the Impasse
Former public service commissioner Lynelle Briggs completed her report on government appointments over two years ago, but its findings have remained secret. This lack of transparency led to significant political tension in the Senate.
How the Standoff Unfolded
Independent ACT Senator David Pocock successfully rallied support from the Opposition and the Greens to impose extra questioning during Senate Question Time until the report was made public. This resulted in the longest ever Senate Question Time last Thursday, stretching to three-and-a-half hours. In response, the government reportedly threatened to remove Opposition MPs from senior committee roles, which include salary bonuses.
The Breakthrough Compromise
On Wednesday, Finance and Public Service Minister Katy Gallagher offered a solution: a closed-door verbal briefing to the Senate's finance and public administration committee. She emphasized that the report itself would not be provided at that time, citing cabinet confidentiality and ongoing deliberations as reasons for the delay.
Gallagher committed to tabling the report by 31 December 2025, stating that premature release could negatively impact cabinet processes. She moved a motion to restore question time to its regular format, contingent on this deadline.
Amendments and Political Reactions
Liberal frontbencher Jonno Duniam added an amendment stating that if the government fails to meet the deadline, the Senate will resume extra questioning, and the minister must explain the failure daily until the report is tabled.
The Greens criticized the deal as a "stitch-up" between major parties, while Labor and the Coalition jointly voted against Senator Pocock's amendment to force an earlier release by 24 November. Pocock expressed concerns about transparency, warning that the government might "bury the report" by releasing it on Christmas Eve and reminding Labor of its promises for open government.
What Happens Next?
With the New Year's Eve deadline in place, the Senate has returned to normal question times. However, if the government misses this deadline, 2026 could see more record-breaking sessions, keeping the issue in the spotlight.
Comments
Join Our Community
Sign up to share your thoughts, engage with others, and become part of our growing community.
No comments yet
Be the first to share your thoughts and start the conversation!