Senator FIFIELD (Manager of Opposition Business in the Senate) (2:00 PM) —My question is to the Leader of the Government in the Senate, Senator Evans. Will the minister please inform the Senate of the government’s legislative and work program for the next two weeks?

Senator CHRIS EVANS (Minister for Tertiary Education, Skills, Jobs and Workplace Relations) —I thank Senator Fifield for the question. I suspect it is probably better directed to the Manager of Government Business, Senator Ludwig, in terms of the detail, as he manages the program and seeks, as I understand it, to work very cooperatively with you, Senator Fifield, in your new role as Manager of Opposition Business. But the legislative agenda is reflected in the red. I see today the orders of the day are the social security bill, the Australian National Preventive Health Agency Bill and the national health amendment bill, and we obviously have the ongoing debate on the Governor-General’s opening speech. So, Mr President, I am not sure what Senator Fifield’s point is. No doubt, there is a cunning plan that will be revealed in the supplementary questions—the usual cunning plans! But, Senator, as you understand, legislation that is passed in the House of Representatives is then forwarded to the Senate for consideration. There are a number of bills that they are considering at the moment that we hope to get to the Senate and through the Senate in the next couple of weeks. There is an important piece of legislation for my portfolio, to do with student services, which will come into the House of Representatives, hopefully, in the next day or so.

Senator Abetz interjecting—

Senator CHRIS EVANS —I would like to thank Senator Abetz. I tuned into his speech when he supported the Social Security Legislation Amendment (Connecting People with Jobs) Bill 2010—

Senator Abetz —But that has been done.

Senator CHRIS EVANS —Well, I am just acknowledging that that is something that we achieved today, with the support of the opposition. So there is a full legislative agenda that will come before the parliament over the next couple of weeks, and we look forward to the cooperation of the opposition in ensuring that work is completed.

Senator FIFIELD —I am surprised that the Leader of the Government in the Senate could take such a casual interest in the agenda of the parliament and his government, but I do thank him for again confirming that the opposition to VSU is the most pressing issue facing this parliament and nation. Mr President, I ask a supplementary question. Given the fact that the Senate ran out of government business yesterday, is this not further evidence that the government has no agenda, no plans and no direction and has lost its way?

Senator CHRIS EVANS (Minister for Tertiary Education, Skills, Jobs and Workplace Relations) —Far from what Senator Fifield claims, I think it shows the opposition has run out of questions. Yesterday looked like the closest thing to a Thursday question time I have ever seen—

Opposition senators interjecting—

The PRESIDENT —Senator Evans. Senator Evans!

Senator CHRIS EVANS —You limped in here without a strategy or any idea what you wanted to do.

Opposition senators interjecting—

The PRESIDENT —Senator Evans, just resume your seat. When there is silence, I will ask you to continue. Senator Evans.

Senator CHRIS EVANS —On yesterday’s evidence, I thought the opposition had lost the will to live or had already packed up and gone on Christmas holidays. Far from it being the government that has lost energy and direction, I think it is the opposition that ought to look at its performance. We are absolutely committed to finalising the legislative agenda we have in the remaining two weeks of parliament.

Senator Fifield —What is it?

Senator CHRIS EVANS —The bills are all on the agenda. There are some very important pieces of legislation. The government yesterday scheduled, I think, two or three bills, which were passed by the Senate. (Time expired)

Senator FIFIELD —Confirmation from the other side that they have run out of legislation, that they do not have an agenda. Mr President, I ask a further supplementary question. Is it not a fact that it costs around $1 million a day to run the Senate, and is this not further evidence of the government’s mismanagement and lack of leadership?

Senator Conroy —Merry Christmas! If you want to go on holiday early, just say so!

Senator CHRIS EVANS (Minister for Tertiary Education, Skills, Jobs and Workplace Relations) —The suggestion seems to be that Senator Fifield is too tired to turn up and he would rather save the taxpayers the money it costs for him to attend parliament. What a ridiculous assertion.

Honourable senators interjecting—

Senator Fifield —Mr President, on a point of order on relevance: we are still waiting to hear from the minister what their agenda is. But my point is that these guys are being paid for doing nothing.

The PRESIDENT —There is no point of order. Senator Evans, you have 52 seconds remaining to answer the question.

Senator CHRIS EVANS —As I say, it seems that Senator Fifield is too tired to attend parliament and he would rather we went home early for Christmas. I know you are not known for your work ethic, Senator, but even by your standards this is rather slack. We have seen it in the Senate estimates; you do not have—

Honourable senators interjecting—

Senator Abetz —Mr President—

Honourable senators interjecting—

The PRESIDENT —Order! Senator Abetz is on his feet and is entitled to be heard in silence on both sides.

Senator Abetz —Mr President, on a point of order: I am sure all honourable senators are well aware, as is the Leader of the Government in the Senate, that comments should not be directed personally across the chamber, as the leader did quite unfairly and quite inappropriately to the Manager of Opposition Business.

The PRESIDENT —Comments should be directed to the chair. Senator Evans, you have 33 seconds remaining.

Senator CHRIS EVANS —Thank you, Mr President. I welcome the opportunity to continue. The assertion that, somehow, parliament should not sit because the opposition is tired and is perhaps losing its will to live is quite ridiculous. There is legislation on the agenda for the parliament which has been provided to the opposition in advance. We are dealing with that quite adequately, as I understand it—with reasonable speed. I appreciate that from the opposition. We have a large number of bills we would like to bring back in if we could get some cooperation on them. (Time expired)

Honourable senators interjecting—

The PRESIDENT —Order! I remind senators on both sides that the time for debating this is at the end of question time.