I inform the Senate that at 8:30 am today 12 proposals were received in accordance with Standing Order 75. 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 McCarthy.

The need to establish an independent national judicial inquiry through the Council of Australian Governments following allegations of theft and corruption in management of water resources in the Barwon-Darling Basin.

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.