The following order of the day relating to government documents was considered:
Commonwealth Grants Commission—Report on State revenue sharing relativities—2009 update. Motion to take note of document moved, by leave, by Senator Brandis. Debate adjourned till Thursday at general business, Senator Brandis in continuation.
General business orders of the day nos 57 to 61 and 63 relating to government documents were called on but no motion was moved.
George Brandis Queensland, Liberal Party, Shadow Attorney-General
Mr President, I rise on a point of order. I am confused. The reason for my confusion is that this debate goes for 30 minutes. The debate has not been going for 30 minutes. I can see it is 7.20 pm. The debate has not been going for 30 minutes because there was a division at 6.50 pm.
John Hogg President
Senator Brandis, 7.20 pm is the fixed time. It is at ‘7.20 pm, or when consideration of government documents concludes’.
George Brandis Queensland, Liberal Party, Shadow Attorney-General
Yes, ‘or when consideration of government documents concludes’. But the consideration of government documents goes for 30 minutes.
John Hogg President
They spill over until the next time for government documents. They do not get lost, Senator Brandis. They remain available on the Notice Paper to be addressed.
George Brandis Queensland, Liberal Party, Shadow Attorney-General
Mr President, with respect, it is not 7.20 pm alone. It is ‘7.20 pm, or when consideration of government documents concludes’ and 30 minutes is a fixed time allocated to the consideration of government documents. We have not had the 30 minutes.
Marise Payne NSW, Liberal Party, Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Indigenous Affairs
George Brandis Queensland, Liberal Party, Shadow Attorney-General
As Senator Payne says, it is not like the adjournment, which must be taken at a fixed time. This is a variable time.
John Hogg President
Senator Brandis, I hear what you say. It is up to 30 minutes. The clerks at the table advise me that the adjournment is proposed on Wednesdays, in accordance with paragraph xii, at 7.20 pm or it can be proposed earlier.
George Brandis Queensland, Liberal Party, Shadow Attorney-General
Are you saying there is an error in the way in which this is expressed on the red, Mr President.
George Brandis Queensland, Liberal Party, Shadow Attorney-General
Are you saying there is an error in the way in which this is expressed on the red, which there may well be?
John Hogg President
It may well be that if that is the interpretation that has been placed on it, Senator Brandis. We will look—
George Brandis Queensland, Liberal Party, Shadow Attorney-General
Item 20 of the red indicates that it is a variable time with ‘7.20pm, or when consideration of government documents concludes’. Item 19 indicates that consideration of government documents can go for 30 minutes.
John Hogg President
Senator Brandis, I hear your point. The adjournment can be called before 7.20 pm but it cannot be called later than 7.20 pm and hence, in the Standing Orders we have reference at paragraph (xii):
At 7.20 pm adjournment proposed.
If it is a difficulty in the way in which the words have been placed on the Notice Paper or the red, I will see if we can make that clearer so that this is not to confuse people into the future.