Senator GALLAGHER (Australian Capital Territory—Minister for the Public Service, Minister for Finance, Minister for Women, Manager of Government Business in the Senate and Vice-President of the Executive Council) (14:00): I welcome the opportunity to congratulate Danielle Wood as the first female leader of the Productivity Commission when she takes up that role. I will have to come back to Senator Hume if there's anything further that I can add, but I understand there was a full merit selection process which was undertaken for that appointment, and the Treasurer would have been briefed on that. It is an exciting opportunity to have Ms Wood take up that role. It's an important institution. It's an institution that the Treasurer is keen to invest in so that we can continue to get good advice from that body, particularly with the productivity challenges that have been apparent in this economy for over a decade now and some of the work that needs to be done to make sure that we are lifting productivity and enhancing living standards. There was a full merit process. The Treasurer would have been briefed on that. She is a fine candidate who brings a wealth of experience and expertise, including a stint at the Productivity Commission at an earlier time in her career. I look forward to working with Ms Wood, as are all members of the government, and I hope that people in the— The PRESIDENT: Senator Hume, a point of order? Senator Hume: A point of order on direct relevance. The question was whether the Treasurer had been briefed by Treasury on the policy views of Ms Wood prior to her appointment, not the merit selection process. The PRESIDENT: I believe the minister is being relevant. She said she will take that part of the question on notice. I'll leave that to the Minister. Senator GALLAGHER: I said I would come back if there was anything further I could advise on. I did indicate that there was a full merit process where candidates were interviewed. Normally as part of that process, an interview panel would have gone to an applicant's career. In this area there are people who have produced publications and been involved in policy debates. I have no doubt that through a merit process all of those matters would have been raised. She is a standout candidate, an excellent candidate, and she will be a first-rate leader of the Productivity Commission and the government looks forward to working with her. The PRESIDENT: Senator Hume, a first supplementary question?