Senator WONG (South Australia—Leader of the Opposition in the Senate) (19:27): I seek leave to make a short statement. The PRESIDENT: Leave is granted for one minute. Senator WONG: I want to make a few points here. We as the opposition and in government over decades have taken the view that the government of the day has the right to set the parliamentary sitting schedule. That is the position that we have consistently taken. So the position that we are demonstrating today is no different to the position that successive Senate delegations— Senator Lambie interjecting— Senator WONG: I am happy to take the interjection, Senator Lambie. What I would say to you is this: we do have a view that this chamber should be run differently. We do have a view that a government should legislate on the things that matter. We do have a view about actually having a government with an agenda. What we say is: elect a Labor government. Elect a Labor government and then we will put forward a Senate program— Senator Patrick interjecting— Senator WONG: With respect, Senator Patrick, you've voted with the government on many pieces of legislation over many years. The PRESIDENT: Senator Wong— Senator WONG: I understand that people are tired, and I understand that this has been difficult, but I would say— (Time expired) The PRESIDENT: Senator Wong, the time has expired. If you want to seek leave— Senator WONG: I would seek leave to finish the point. The PRESIDENT: Leave is granted. Senator WONG: I thank the Senate. I will make a point about conventions. This place is about the management, in many ways, of conflict and different views about how this country should be run. Part of how we manage and contain some of this conflict is by the observation of conventions. They include things like ministerial accountability, the pairing arrangements and the recommittal of votes. There's a whole range of things, and this is one of them. It is not about ceding control of the chamber; it is about recognising the role of executive government in a Westminster system, because we are also a party of government and we seek to change the country by changing the government.