Senator GALLAGHER (Australian Capital Territory—Minister for Finance, Minister for the Public Service, Minister for Women, Minister for Government Services and Manager of Government Business in the Senate) (15:25): I welcome the opportunity to say a few words on this. I think others have spoken about the fact that this chamber largely works by cooperating across the chamber—not that a lot of people see it. No single party has the numbers, and no individual senator can deliver a particular outcome. So, from the minute we start to the minute we adjourn, there are a whole range of agreements that are reached, usually outside of the floor as we talk across all of the offices. That's the only way the Senate can truly function. We don't talk about it often, because it isn't demonstrated on the floor, but that's how the place works. Last week, that was fractured, and we are seeing the results of that now. The Briggs report—I'm trying to keep within the motion, and the Briggs report is relevant because it triggered the fracture that played out on Thursday and is playing out again today. That report will be released, as I have said a number of times, but it won't be released until the cabinet has finished its consideration of it. Senator Paterson: We just want to read the report. Senator GALLAGHER: It won't be released until that time, because it is not fair to my cabinet colleagues to do that when they have the right to consider that report as it relates to their own portfolios. It is a piece of work that is restricted to boards and committees. That is the work that was done by Ms Briggs. But it is currently before cabinet. Under the conventions and under the operations of cabinet confidentiality—and this is recognised in Odgers'—while those discussions and deliberations are underway, the government has a right to protect that information. That is all we are doing. We will release that report; I've been clear about that. So I do not accept the criticism from Senator Pocock, who not once has asked for a briefing on boards or committees or anything to do with that report. The PRESIDENT: Minister, I draw you back to the suspension. Senator GALLAGHER: This is linked. Convention was ripped up on the floor, led by a senator who hadn't sought any information about the work that I am currently doing. It has ramifications. We've been seeing that over the last couple of days. I wish it had been dealt with differently, but that was the choice of a senator who, working with others, passed this motion. We are trying to make that work, as we did on Thursday, when we all sat here and were prepared to sit here for as long as you had questions. We tried to stay till midnight. We kept question time going. We were the ones that were directing the show. And those opposite, in all these calls for transparency, left. The exodus out of those doors was something I haven't seen before. Senator Paterson interjecting— Senator GALLAGHER: So don't lecture this government about transparency. As Senator Wong said, we have answered more OPDs than any other government in the history of this parliament. OPDs are being misused by the Senate right now. They're being used as the first point of research, not the last. There are OPDs being used that have 1.8 million documents under their scope. Senator Paterson interjecting— Senator Wong: A point of order. At some point, could Senator Paterson cease the interjections. At some point in this five-minute contribution— Senator Paterson interjecting— Senator Wong: Even now. The PRESIDENT: Senator Paterson, come to order. Senator Wong: It's just rude. We listened to your leader in silence. Senator Paterson: You did not. The PRESIDENT: It's not a debate. Senator Wong: Almost silence. We certainly did. How about we have almost silence? How about that? Whereas you do permanent interjections. The PRESIDENT: Minister Wong, please resume your seat. It's not an open debate across the chamber. Minister, please continue. I'm going to draw you back to the suspension motion. Senator GALLAGHER: The scope of some of the OPDs include 1.8 million documents, and they have to be delivered to this chamber within eight days. I mean, come on. This chamber needs a serious discussion about how it's going to operate. It looks like those opposite are prepared to rip up any pathway to resolution on this, but I would urge everyone in this chamber—the government is up for it—to talk through how we will make this chamber work. In the history of this chamber for its proud 124 years, that is the way it has worked. We do not support the suspension. We have the order of the call. I'm not sure if we're going to get to question 15. We are prepared to work across the parliament to resolve the order of the call going forward. The PRESIDENT: The question is that the suspension motion moved by Senator Ruston be agreed to. A division having been called and the bells being rung— Senator Ruston: Could I please ask that the division be cancelled. Leave granted; question negatived.