Paul Scarr (Queensland, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Immigration) Share this | Hansard source

Acting Deputy President Ghosh, I first acknowledge the way in which you handled that very difficult discussion. I'll be very brief. As the coalition said in relation to the Sex Discrimination Amendment (Acknowledging Biological Reality) Bill 2024 last year when it was negatived at first reading, and in relation to another similar bill more recently: while the Senate has the opportunity to reject a bill at the first reading stage, in practice the first reading is almost always passed without opposition and is regarded as a purely formal stage.

The coalition supports these normal procedures, as we have with many Greens, Labor or crossbench bills that we strongly opposed. The normal process enables bills to be fairly considered and debated by the Senate before a substantive decision is taken. It should only be deviated from in the most extreme of circumstances, lest we deny the right of senators to even have matters debated. As in all cases, a vote on the first reading should not be taken as a position on the substantive legislation. Similarly, a vote supporting an inquiry into a bill should not be taken as endorsing or rejecting that bill—rather, it simply affords senators the opportunity to consider the merits of legislation and form their position on the basis of evidence.