A letter has been received from Senator Fifield proposing that the following matter of public importance be submitted to the Senate for discussion:

The Gillard Government's missed opportunity for real school education reform.

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.