Mark Dreyfus Isaacs, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Attorney General
11:59 am
by leave—I move:
That so much of the standing orders be suspended as would prevent the member for Isaacs from moving the following motion immediately—that the House resolves that it will never support the privatisation of the ABC and calls on the government to reverse its latest damaging $83 million cut to the ABC.
Michelle Rowland Greenway, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Communications
I second the motion.
Alan Tudge Aston, Liberal Party, Minister for Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs
No, leave is not granted. There are important reports to be tabled, and there is an ordinary course of events which we should be going through today.
Scott Buchholz Wright, Liberal Party
A point of order, Mr Deputy Speaker. I'm perplexed. It's 12 o'clock, and I thought we were going on to the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Public Works. Could I have some clarification on procedure please?
Tony Smith Speaker
Just before I proceed to any question, if the member for Isaacs could clarify for me and for the House—I wasn't in the chair; there seems to be some confusion—did the member for Isaac seek leave or not?
Mark Dreyfus Isaacs, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Attorney General
No. It was very clear to the deputy speaker that I had not sought leave.
Tony Smith Speaker
Therefore, the question is that the motion moved by the member for Isaacs be agreed to.