Barnaby Joyce (Queensland, National Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I ask that business of the Senate notice of motion No. 1 standing in my name pertaining to an Economics Committee inquiry into Foreign Investment Review Board guidelines be taken as a formal motion.

Annette Hurley (SA, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

by leave—I advise the Senate that the motion was standing in my name also, but I am withdrawing my association with it. I would have preferred to defer consideration of this motion to get agreement across parties on the important and substantive issues of this motion. It has not been possible to get agreement with Senator Joyce on postponing the motion to have discussions on the terms of reference and I prefer that the motion does not proceed under these circumstances.

Alan Ferguson (SA, Deputy-President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Is there any objection to this motion being taken as formal?

Bob Brown (Tasmania, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Yes. I want to inform the Senate, if I may—

Alan Ferguson (SA, Deputy-President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

There is an objection. You will need to seek leave.

Bob Brown (Tasmania, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek leave—if you insist, Mr Deputy President.

Ian Macdonald (Queensland, Liberal Party, Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Northern Australia) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr Deputy President, I raise a point of order. Did Senator Brown indicate that he was refusing formality?

Alan Ferguson (SA, Deputy-President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Brown, were you refusing formality?

Bob Brown (Tasmania, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Yes.

Ian Macdonald (Queensland, Liberal Party, Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Northern Australia) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

And you want leave to speak!

Alan Ferguson (SA, Deputy-President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! And you are seeking leave to speak? Is leave granted?

Leave not granted.