Claire Moore (Queensland, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

I inform the Senate that at 8.30 am today, Senator Fifield and Senator Siewert each submitted a letter in accordance with standing order 75 proposing a matter of public importance for discussion. The question of which proposal would be submitted to the Senate was determined by lot.

As a result, I inform the Senate that the following letter has been received from Senator Siewert:

The Gillard Government's failure to properly regulate and monitor the live export trade via the Exporter Supply Chain Assurance System and ensure animal welfare concerns are properly addressed.

Is the proposal supported?

More than the number of senators required by the standing orders having risen in their places—

I understand that informal arrangements have been made to allocate specific times to each of the speakers in today’s debate. With the concurrence of the Senate, I shall ask the clerks to set the clock accordingly.