Senate Education and Employment Legislation Committee, , 11:59 to 16:32
The Chair opens the hearing, acknowledges traditional custodians, and the Secretary provides an opening statement including well wishes for Dr. Helen Haines and administrative updates.
Topics: Education, Public service staffing
Speakers: Senator Marielle Smith, Mr. Tony Cook, Unknown Speaker, Senator Paul Scarr, Senator Jess Walsh
Okay, good morning everybody. Um, welcome to last day of Senate estimates for the week. I declare open this hearing of the Education and Employment Legislation Committee into the 2026 27 supplementary budget estimates. I begin by acknowledging the traditional custodians of the land on which we meet today and pay my respects to their elders past and present and I extend that respect to Aboriginal and Toouristra Islander people here today. The committee has fixed Thursday the 17th of December, 2026 as the date for the return of answers to questions taken on notice. The committee's proceedings today will begin with corporate and enabling services of the Department of Education. Understanding order 26, the committee must take all evidence in public session. This includes answers to questions on notice. I remind all witnesses that in giving evidence to the committee, they are protected by parliamentary privilege. It is unlawful for anyone to threaten or disadvantage a witness on account of evidence given to a committee and such action may be treated by the Senate as a contempt. It is also a contempt to give false or misleading evidence. The Senate has endorsed the following test of relevance of questions at estimates hearings. Any questions going to the operations or financial positions of the departments and agencies which are seeking funds in estimates are relevant questions for the purpose of estimates hearings. I remind officers that the Senate has resolved that there are no areas in connection with the expenditure of public funds where any person has a discretion to withhold details or explanations from the parliament or its committees unless the parliament has expressly provided otherwise. The Senate has resolved that an officer of a department of the Commonwealth shall not be asked to give opinions on matters of policy and shall be given reasonable opportunity to refer questions asked of the officer to superior officers or to a minister. This resolution does not preclude questions asking for explanations of policies or factual questions about when and how policies were adopted. Witnesses are reminded of the Senate order specifying the process by which a claim of public interest immunity should be raised and I incorporate the public in immunity statement into the Hansard. I remind senators of their obligations under the behavior code for Australian parliamentarians to treat witnesses with dignity, courtesy, fairness and respect. An officer called to answer a question for the first time should state their full name in the capacity in which they appear. I now welcome Senator the Honorable Dr. Jess Walsh, Minister for Early Childhood Education and the Minister for Youth, who is representing the Minister for Education. Minister, do you wish to make an opening statement today?
>> Uh, good morning, Chair. No, I don't.
>> Thank you. I also welcome Mr. Tony Cook, PSM, Secretary of the Department of Education. Mr. Cook, do you wish to make an opening statement?
>> Just a very short statement of Please
proceed. Yeah.
>> Uh, chair, before we begin, I'd like to acknowledge the member for Indie, Dr. Helen Haines, MP. On behalf of the Department of Education, I express our support for Dr. Haines as she recovers in hospital following the recent just deeply distressing event. Violence against anyone in any form is totally unacceptable. Our thoughts are with Dr. Hayne's family, her electorate staff and the broader Indie community. We recognize an event of this nature can have a profound impact on many people and our thoughts are with all those affected. We wish Dr. Hayne strength and comfort as she continues to recovery. I'd also like on behalf of the department to welcome Senator Scarr uh a fellow Queenslander uh to the committee. So it's great to have you here Senator Scarr.
>> That changes I'm changing my questions.
>> I would hope that's what happened. That's why I said that. Um normal practice grad our graduates will also rotate through towards the back chair as you know. And finally, I'd like to wish
my mom today yet. Are they yet? No,
>> They'll come in by group there. >> Rather than have everyone here on mass.
>> Okay.
>> Yeah. And finally, I'd like to wish my mom happy birthday. Oh, >> it's her birthday today. I won't say how old she is, otherwise I'll never be in the committee again. Uh, but I wish
>> What is your mother's name, Mr. Cook?
>> Mari. >> Mar.
>> Happy birthday, Mar from Education and Employment Legislation Committee. Wow.
>> So, I wish you a happy birthday.
>> Great.
>> I'm going through door on Friday. I
>> All right, we'll take that one offline. That sounds like a good idea. Um, thanks. And uh to you graduates listening, we're very much looking forward to having them in here today. I think I said last time I started my career as a graduate in the public service. It's a fantastic thing to do. So we're really looking forward to their attendance today and hopefully we don't scare them off a lifetime of public service. Um all right, we'll get underway with corporate and enabling services and I'm coming to the opposition to Senator O. Sullivan.