David Leyonhjelm (NSW, Liberal Democratic Party) Share this | Hansard source

I move my second reading amendment:

At the end of the motion add:

", but given:

(a) section 54 of the Constitution prescribes that the bills appropriating moneys for the ordinary annual services of the Government shall deal only with such appropriations; and

(b) appropriations for expenditure on new policies are not appropriations for the ordinary annual services of the Government and the Cities and the Built Environment Taskforce has been 'established' as part of a 'new' Cities Agenda;

the Senate calls on the Government to respect the powers of the Senate and place such programs in appropriation bills other than those for the ordinary annual services of the Government."

The amendment draws attention to the government's inclusion of a new policy in an appropriation bill that the Senate cannot amend. It notes that this inclusion undermines the Senate's constitutional right to amend provisions relating to a new policy. It urges the government to not undermine the Senate and the Constitution in this way. I seek support from any senators who, like me, may wish to oppose spending on new policy, but I also seek support from any senators who simply value the constitutional role of the Senate. I commend my amendment to the Senate.