House debates

Thursday, 6 December 2018

Questions to the Speaker

Business

3:44 pm

Photo of Mr Tony BurkeMr Tony Burke (Watson, Australian Labor Party, Manager of Opposition Business (House)) Share this | | Hansard source

Obviously the respect of the House goes completely to the words we've just heard. Mr Speaker, may I raise a different matter. There's a motion on the Notice Paper that the House has not yet moved, in the name of the Leader of the House, which, unless we move it, we won't be able to complete the encryption legislation today, or the divestment legislation, both of which the government has said are essential. Once the MPI starts, it will be too late for that to be moved, and if we want to make sure that is dealt with, it would have to be now.

Photo of Tony SmithTony Smith (Speaker) Share this | | Hansard source

The Leader of the House on a point of order?

Photo of Christopher PyneChristopher Pyne (Sturt, Liberal Party, Leader of the House) Share this | | Hansard source

On a point of order, because there has been quite a misrepresentation. The House of Representatives has passed the encryption bill with all the necessary amendments, and it doesn't need to return to the House if the Senate passes the amendments, because there are no other amendments necessary. It was the Manager of Opposition Business in the House who stopped the divestments bill being dealt with today by requiring it not be taken as a whole and dealt with clause by clause—for the first time in 30 years.

Photo of Tony SmithTony Smith (Speaker) Share this | | Hansard source

On that note, we might move to valedictories.