Senate debates Committees

Electoral Matters Committee; Reference


Stephen Parry

Stephen Parry Tasmania, Liberal Party

3:51 pm

by leave—I move:

That the provisions of Schedule 1 of the Tax Laws Amendment (2008 Measures No. 1) Bill 2008 be referred to the Joint Standing Committee on Electoral Matters for inquiry and report by June 2009.

Andrew Bartlett

Andrew Bartlett Queensland, Australian Democrats

Mr President, I rise on a point of order. I seek advice before voting on this motion. Can I clarify that referring this schedule of the bill does not prevent it from being debated by the Senate prior to then? Can I also clarify whether referring it until June 2009 is accurate or whether it is a typographical error?

Alan Ferguson

Alan Ferguson President

In answer to your first question, it only refers to the provisions of the bill, not the bill itself. Senator Parry, is that a mistake?

Stephen Parry

Stephen Parry Tasmania, Liberal Party

It is not a typographical error; it is 2009.

Question agreed to.

Kerry O'Brien

Kerry O'Brien Tasmania, Australian Labor Party

3:53 pm

by leave—Could the record show that the government has voted against this motion?

Andrew Bartlett

Andrew Bartlett Queensland, Australian Democrats

by leave—For the record, I indicate that the Democrats opposed this motion.