Good morning, I wanted to make few remarks about Senate Estimates yesterday, and just talk a little bit about what we learned. The government’s hostility to working people, to their representatives, to their workplace conditions was all on display yesterday with the appearance of the Australian Public Service Commissioner, Mr John Lloyd.

The Community Development Program (CDP) is failing vulnerable individuals and communities, a Senate committee has been told during a visit to Palm Island and Townsville. The Senate Finance and Public Administration Committee is conducting an inquiry into the operation of the CDP.

I conclude two things. The first is that the government really hasn’t thought this through and when we’re in the middle of a $122 million exercise, to be doing contingency planning that commenced just a week ago, around how you might find a $122 million extra in your budget, it’s kind of terrifying. That is not how government is supposed to be run and it suggests an extremely chaotic process. 

The ABS today cast doubt on suggestions that the survey could proceed if the High Court decided against the Government.

Australia faces a huge challenge to protect our unique wildlife. An unacceptable number of our animals such as the hairy nosed wombat and the iconic koala are vulnerable, endangered or face extinction.

Last week the Reserve Bank issued its 2017-18 corporate plan. No doubt this was marked in everyone’s calendar. It makes for interesting reading, however, because it sets out what the RBA thinks are the key risks for its monetary policy functions in the year ahead.

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Last week I travelled to Alice Springs as part of the Senate inquiry I am chairing into joblessness in remote Aboriginal communities.

The Senate inquiry into the Community Development Program (CDP) has heard from NGOs, community members, Indigenous leaders and employment providers that they were not consulted by the Minister for Indigenous Affair about the CDP.

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Last week I spoke with community members and students at The University of Sydney about the importance of enrolling to have their say in the upcoming postal survey on marriage equality. LGBTIQ Australians deserve our support.