Peter Dutton (Dickson, Liberal Party, Leader of the Opposition) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek leave to move the following motion:

That this House expresses it's grave concern at this Prime Minister's comprehensive mishandling of the Voice referendum, including:

(1) a failure to explain to the Australian people how the members of the Voice will be appointed or elected, what the consequences will be for government decision making processes, and what the scope of the issues will be on which the Voice will have the power to make representations;

(2) an unwillingness to consult in relation to the words of the constitutional amendment, or to consider limiting the amendment to the issue of constitutional recognition;

(3) the arrogant assumption that the Australian people will be ready to vote in support of the Voice when they have not been given the details of how it will operate and how it will be structured; and

(4) the Prime Minister's actions dividing the country in an unprecedented and reckless way.

Leave not granted.

I move:

That so much of the standing and sessional orders be suspended as would prevent the Leader of the Opposition from moving the following motion forthwith:

That this House expresses it's grave concern at this Prime Minister's comprehensive mishandling of the Voice referendum, including:

(1) a failure to explain to the Australian people how the members of the Voice will be appointed or elected, what the consequences will be for government decision making processes, and what the scope of the issues will be on which the Voice will have the power to make representations;

(2) an unwillingness to consult in relation to the words of the constitutional amendment, or to consider limiting the amendment to the issue of constitutional recognition;

(3) the arrogant assumption that the Australian people will be ready to vote in support of the Voice when they have not been given the details of how it will operate and how it will be structured; and

(4) the Prime Minister's actions dividing the country in an unprecedented and reckless way.

The reality is that this Prime Minister has misled the Australian public.

Milton Dick (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Resume your seat, the Leader of the Opposition. You've moved the suspension.

The member for Cooper is warned. The Leader of the Opposition will resume his seat so I can hear from the Leader of the House.

Mr Tony Burke (Watson, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I require this debate to be continued after the MPI under standing order 47(e).