Ending what has been a sorry saga, the Coalition welcomes the Albanese Government’s backflip to reinstate the fourth Estimates week in the Parliamentary Sitting Calendar for 2023.

The attempt to axe a week of Senate estimates would never have happened in the first place if the Albanese Government was genuine in its claimed belief in transparency and accountability.

Imagine the Labor and Greens outrage should the tables have been turned. The outrage would have been off the Richter scale from Labor and the Greens. Labor’s attempt to axe a week of Senate estimates, backed by the Greens, has been hypocrisy at its finest.

I again thank all six Senate cross-benchers for their support to force the hand of the Albanese Government to do the right thing and maintain Senate conventions along with Senate scrutiny.