Chris Ellison (WA, Liberal Party, Manager of Opposition Business in the Senate) Share this | Hansard source

I seek leave to make a short statement.

Leave granted.

Mr President, after discussion with a number of senators here, I believe the appropriate course of action is for the vote to be recommitted tonight. During the time I have been here, my experience in a situation like this has been that the recommittal has occurred at the earliest opportunity after the error has been found. I understand that Senator Brown was going to seek leave to make a short statement as well. Should that leave be sought, I can foreshadow that the coalition will grant that. I certainly would seek a recommittal of this. We had envisaged the luxury car tax bills going on until 7.20 pm anyway. It was something that had been the subject of discussion between the Manager of Government Business and me. I think that senators would have been aware that there was a possibility of a division occurring at this time. On that basis, I would be seeking leave shortly to have the question on the second reading of the luxury car tax bills put again tonight.