Stephen Parry (President) Share this | Hansard source

If you do not support the bills, that would be correct because the committee has not agreed to the bills. The question before the chair is that the report of the committee be adopted. The committee, as we have just heard, reported that the bills have not been agreed to. I want to clarify this absolutely and completely because it is slightly unusual. This is an important thing to clarify. The effect of the motion that I am about to put would be that all bills cease any further action.

Prior to that, I seek the concurrence of the Senate on a matter. I have written to the president of the press gallery, Mr David Speers—copied to all leaders and whips of the Senate—responding to a request that photographs be allowed to be taken of divisions. I have stipulated some provisions in this letter: that the photographs be broad shots of the chamber only; that individual senators or groups of senators not be the focus of any particular shot; and that the media rules are otherwise complied with at all times. Do I have the concurrence of the Senate? There being no objection, it is so.

The question is that the report of the committee, disagreeing to all of the bills, be adopted.