Budget — Consideration by Estimates Committees

Fatima Payman

I move:

That the order agreed to on 27 November 2025 relating to estimates hearings for 2026 be varied as follows:

After paragraph (1), insert:

(1A) That cross portfolio estimates hearings on Indigenous matters and on Murray-Darling Basin Plan matters be scheduled for Friday, 29 May 2026 and Friday, 30 October 2026, but not restricted to those days.

Anthony Chisholm

I seek leave to make a short statement.

Sue Lines

Leave is granted for one minute.

Anthony Chisholm

The government does not support this motion. Despite her moving this motion today, I don't believe Senator Payman has ever attended a single cross-portfolio Indigenous matters estimates hearing since being elected in 2022. Senator Payman has not asked a single question to the National Indigenous Australians Agency or any agencies, officials or organisations in the Indigenous Australians portfolio during estimates. We have more than tripled the time dedicated to First Nations issues on the estimates schedule: 23 hours was scheduled for First Nations issues and Closing the Gap outcomes at the February hearings, up from six hours and 45 minutes scheduled at the last cross-portfolio hearing. Indigenous matters are now part of everyday estimates. This is a structural change to reflect that closing the gap is a whole-of-government responsibility, shared by all ministers and secretaries.