Mr Tony Burke (Watson, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for the Arts) Share this | Hansard source

The opposition is supporting the motion that has just been put. For the clarity of members: that means, if you wish to speak on the mitochondrial bill, the debate will go all night until we run out of speakers. That's the opportunity. The government has done the right thing in terms of making sure, with managing the business of the House, that you can't gag a conscience vote. Making sure that everybody gets to speak is an important thing.

It also means that, if you are on the list for the adjournment debate tonight, it won't technically be an adjournment debate, but you'll get to make your speech between 7.30 and eight o'clock. With all that in mind, the opposition thanks the government for their cooperation. It's an appropriate way to deal with what's before us.

Question agreed to.

See this speech in context