Simon Birmingham (SA, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Hansard source

I seek leave to move a motion relating to the Water Amendment (Restoring Our Rivers) Bill 2023 and government engagement with basin communities.

Leave not granted.

I therefore move:

That so much of standing orders be suspended as would prevent the Senate moving a motion relating to the conduct of the business of the Senate or to provide for the consideration of any matter.

I move this motion because we know that the government is preparing for yet another guillotine, yet another closure of debate in this place, because it doesn't like scrutiny, it doesn't like transparency, it doesn't like accountability and it won't listen to people. It's a government that doesn't listen; in fact, it chooses not to listen. This bill, the Water Amendment (Restoring Our Rivers) Bill 2023 is a classic example of the government choosing not to listen. It actively chose not to listen. This bill was, like so many other bills, referred to a Senate inquiry. What would you think you would do with a Senate inquiry into a bill directly affecting water policy and the Murray-Darling Basin? I think—