Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition in the Senate) | Hansard source

I didn't anticipate that there would be opposition to this motion, so I apologise that I've run into the chamber.

I understand the Greens are opposing this and I understand that they don't intend to call a division, so I thought that it would perhaps be useful to put on the record that the Labor Party supports the motion from Senator Patrick. I would make the point that the President made yesterday—that the relevant matters are those set out in privileges resolution 4. I would also make the point that backing the President on a procedural matter, such as the granting of precedence, we believe, as a party of government and a responsible actor in this chamber, is important. We believe it is a very significant thing to do in those circumstances where precedence has been granted by the President to fail to support the motion.

And if I may be so bold as to say this: it seemed to me, from listening to the contribution from Senator Di Natale, that he was essentially prejudging the consideration of this matter by the Privileges Committee. The whole purpose of the referral is so that the committee can make a judgement on this. I think that in those circumstances it's disappointing that the Greens political party have chosen to take the course they have. That's a matter for them, but I did want to place on record the Labor Party's position, which is that we will be supporting the referral.

Question agreed to.