Jacinta Collins (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Parliamentary Secretary for School Education and Workplace Relations) Share this | Hansard source

I seek leave to move a motion relating to the routine of business for Thursday, 20 September 2012.

Leave not granted.

Pursuant to contingent notice of motion in the name of the Leader of the Government in the Senate, Senator Evans, I move:

That so much of the standing orders be suspended as would prevent me moving a motion to provide for the consideration of a matter, namely, a motion to give precedence to a motion to vary the hours of meeting and routine of business for Thursday 20 September 2012.

I will speak briefly to the motion. This afternoon, I am seeking to move a motion that facilitates debate on the Marriage Amendment Bill (No. 2) tomorrow. As will be demonstrated when the chamber votes on this suspension motion, and on the actual motion to organise business tomorrow, the majority of senators want the debate on this bill to continue tomorrow. Debating the bill tomorrow will allow the Senate to express its position on the same bill that was voted on and defeated in the other place earlier today. The motion should be supported without further debate.