About the Lecture

Reflections on Senate committees

Shaping the development of the modern Senate committee system is considered to be one of Harry Evans' most significant achievements. In this lecture former senators Claire Moore, Marise Payne and Rachel Siewert will discuss their experience, and reflections, on Senate committees.

Claire Moore was a Queensland Labor Senator from 2002 to 2019. She loved the committee system and the joy of working with community members who wanted to talk with their parliament about issues and policies. She also loved the opportunities of the adjournment every sitting when parliamentarians often revealed their passion and interests. Question time, not so much!

The Hon Marise Payne is an accomplished, considered strategic leader, highly experienced in foreign policy, national security and strategic issues. Marise served as Australia’s Minister for Defence and Minister for Foreign Affairs in the most challenging and complex strategic environments of recent times, and as Minister for Women and Minister for Human Services. Marise stepped down from the Australian Senate in September 2023 and is Australia's longest serving female Senator. She is currently a Distinguished Visiting Fellow at Hoover Institution, a Professor of Practice in International Relations and Public Policy at Western Sydney University and a Senior Adviser at Bondi Partners.

Rachel Siewert started her career working for the Department of Agriculture on landcare and salinity. Following this she was Coordinator of the Conservation Council of Western Australia for 16 years. In this role she was part of and lead successful environmental campaigns. She was elected as a Senator for WA in 2004 and held a number of national portfolios for the Greens. She chaired the Senate Community Affairs References Committee for over 10 years, initiating and chairing many inquiries, including the inquiry into forced adoptions. Rachel is now Deputy CEO of the WA Council of Social Service.

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