House debates Bills
Building and Construction Industry (Improving Productivity) Bill 2013 [No. 2], Building and Construction Industry (Consequential and Transitional Provisions) Bill 2013 [No. 2]
Christopher Pyne Sturt, Liberal Party, Leader of the House
10:28 am
I ask leave of the House to move a motion requesting that the Senate resume consideration of the Building and Construction Industry (Improving Productivity) Bill 2013 [No. 2], and the Building and Construction Industry (Consequential and Transitional Provisions) Bill 2013 [No. 2].
Mr Tony Burke Watson, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Finance
We have made it clear that we are ready to debate this in the Senate so, on that basis, leave is granted.
Leave granted.
Christopher Pyne Sturt, Liberal Party, Leader of the House
I thank the House, and I move:
That:
(1) the House requests the Senate to resume consideration of the bills entitled a Bill for an Act to re-establish the Australian Building and Construction Commissioner, and for related purposes, and a Bill for an Act to deal with consequential and transitional matters arising from the enactment of the Building and Construction Industry (Improving Productivity) Act 2013, and for related purposes, which were transmitted to the Senate for its concurrence during the last session of the Parliament; and
(2) the House's requests be conveyed to the Senate in a separate message for each bill.
Christopher Pyne Sturt, Liberal Party, Leader of the House
I move:
That the question be now put.
Tony Smith Speaker
10:36 am
The question now is that the motion moved by the Leader of the House be agreed to.
Adam Bandt Melbourne, Australian Greens
10:38 am
(In division) Mr Speaker, I raise a point of order about the conduct during the debate. I had begun moving a motion by way of amendment to the Leader of House's motion to allow us to debate a national anti-corruption watchdog instead of the ABCC bills. I had begun moving that motion and then the call was given to the Leader of the House. I seek your clarification: is it the case that only certain members of this House are allowed to finish their motions before a gag motion is put or does that right extend to members of the crossbench as well?
Tony Smith Speaker
My answer to that is, as I said when I became Speaker, that I would treat all members equally, and that is what I do.