by leave—I move:

That, on Tuesday, 16 June 2009:

(a)

the hours of meeting shall be 12.30 pm to adjournment;

(b)

the routine of business after the consideration of government documents shall be government business only;

(c)

the question for the adjournment of the Senate shall be proposed at 9.50 pm or after the Senate has finally considered the following bills, whichever is the earlier:

• Social Security Legislation Amendment (Improved Support for Carers) Bill 2009 and the Social Security Legislation Amendment (Improved Support for Carers) (Consequential and Transitional) Bill 2009
• Fair Work (State Referral and Consequential and Other Amendments) Bill 2009 and the Fair Work (Transitional Provisions and Consequential Amendments) Bill 2009; and

(d)

the time limit for the adjournment debate is 40 minutes.

by leave—I certainly do not want to labour the point, but are we getting a meal break? Staff work around here as well. It would be good to get a break for at least half an hour. I have made this point many times before in this chamber. Having a half-hour meal break within those changed hours would make sense. I am sorry that I have picked this up late, but it is a point that I constantly raise and I think it is a fair point.

by leave—Senator Fielding is absolutely right, and the break should be an hour. I have told the Leader of the Government in the Senate that we will not agree to hours like this being set again without a decent meal break. This is the end of it. Senator Fielding is right: there should be a meal break when there are extended sitting hours like these. We will not allow this to happen again unless the Senate votes otherwise.

I would like to indicate that I think there is an opportunity to strategically plan a meal break around the documents period from 6.50 pm. I do not want to upset senators’ meal plans. I think there is an opportunity. I understand your warning, Senator Brown, but I also know that senators are keen to be in here for the committee documents, and there is a possible opportunity to partake of some food.

Question agreed to.

I move:

That intervening business be postponed until after the consideration of government business order of the day no. 4, Social Security Legislation Amendment (Improved Support for Carers) Bill 2009 and a related bill.

Question agreed to.