Sarah Hanson-Young (SA, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I move:

That the Senate:

(a) acknowledges that there is a crisis in the management of the Murray-Darling Basin which has led to the theft of water and depleted the environmental health of the river system;

(b) notes that this matter requires urgent attention and government intervention;

(c) notes that there is considerable uncertainty about any executive action the current Minister for Agriculture and Water Resources may take because of the unresolved questions around his eligibility and possible lack of legal authority to be a Minister of State under section 64 of the Constitution; and

(d) resolves that the Senate will not consider any bills within the Minister's portfolio from the adjournment of the Senate on Thursday 14 September 2017 until the High Court determines the question of the eligibility of Mr Joyce to sit as a member of the House of Representatives, unless the Prime Minister reallocates the Agriculture and Water Resources portfolio to another minister with clear legal authority to act.

Katy Gallagher (ACT, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek leave to amend general business notice of motion No. 494.

Leave granted.

I move:

Paragraph (d), omit all words after "resolves that the Senate will not consider any bills within the Minister's portfolio", substitute "from the adjournment of the Senate on Thursday, 14 September 2017 until the High Court determines the question of the eligibility of Mr Joyce to sit as a member of the House of Representatives, unless the Prime Minister reallocates the Agriculture and Water Resources portfolio to another minister with clear legal authority to act".

Stephen Parry (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The question is that the amendment moved by Senator Gallagher be agreed to. Point of order, Senator Macdonald? Senator Macdonald, you do need to be in your seat to address the Chair.

Honourable senators interjecting—

Order!

Ian Macdonald (Queensland, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

There was someone else in my seat, so I couldn't do that. They've kindly given me—

Stephen Parry (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Are you seeking clarification, Senator Macdonald?

Ian Macdonald (Queensland, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

A point of order. I'm not sure which amendment has been circulated in the chamber. It certainly hasn't been circulated to me. If the mover can actually say exactly what the amendment is perhaps we don't need it circulated in the chamber, but it certainly hasn't been circulated to any desk that I've been sitting in either here or over there.

Honourable Senators:

Honourable senators interjecting—

Stephen Parry (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! The amendment has been circulated in the name of Senator Gallagher, and it has been circulated in the chamber. I'm satisfied that it has been circulated. The question is that the amendment moved by Senator Gallagher to Senator Hanson-Young's motion be agreed to.

Stephen Parry (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The question now is that the motion moved by Senator Hanson-Young be agreed to.