Senator BIRMINGHAM (South Australia—Leader of the Opposition in the Senate) (16:03): by leave—Imagine the Labor-Greens outrage if a coalition government had sought to axe one week of the traditional four weeks of Senate estimates. Imagine the even greater outrage if this was done, along with other unprecedented changes to the sitting schedule, without any consultation having occurred across the chamber. The outrage would have been off the Richter scale from Labor and the Greens. While we have seen in question time yesterday and today Senator Wong show a level of outrage at being questioned over the sitting schedule, I welcome this tweak, as the Manager of Government Business has described it, to the government's program. That's more than a tweak. Let me welcome this backflip and capitulation by the government to reinstate the four weeks of Senate estimates. They should never have sought to axe it. The attempt to axe a week of Senate estimates was clearly— Senator Whish-Wilson: Point of order, President: why is the clock not running? Could we set a time for this, please? The PRESIDENT: If you were listening, Senator Whish-Wilson, Senator Birmingham was given leave to make a few short remarks. Senator BIRMINGHAM: To wrap up. This attempt to axe a week was clearly an attempt by the government to take an axe to the conventional transparency and accountability processes and procedures of the Senate. It was extraordinary to see the Greens also play patsy to this attempt to erode Senate accountability, but I do thank all six crossbench senators for standing firm with the coalition in support of Senate conventions. I acknowledge and welcome the government's backflip and, with that, indicate the opposition will not be proceeding with the amendments circulated in my name.