Matthew Canavan (Queensland, Liberal National Party) Share this | Hansard source

On a further point of order, Mr Temporary Chairman: this also comes under standing order 118. I refer to Odgers. We have been debating aspects of the title of the bill as being indicative of its subject matter. On page 249, Odgers says that, while the subject matter of the bill is of some relevance, it is not definitive in deciding whether or not something is relevant under standing order 118. I argue that all of the provisions of this bill that Senator Fifield read out earlier relate to the repeal of regulations. All of them represent attempts to reduce red tape and regulation. That is the purpose of this bill. That is why the government has introduced it. There is no way that the things Senator Dastyari has spoken about are 'related purposes'. There is no relation to this bill whatsoever. If we are going to interpret standing order 118 in this liberal fashion, this place will become just like the US Congress. We will just be able to put riders on everything. What is going to ensure this place has relevance in debate and has properly ordered debate about what is before the chair?

The TEMPORARY CHAIRMAN: Senator Canavan, I have ruled on this point of order.