Joe Ludwig (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Manager of Government Business in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek leave to move a motion to vary the routine of business for today.

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

No? What is it?

John Hogg (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Is leave granted?

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

Mr President, I have refused leave, but I will give leave if I get leave to make a short statement.

John Hogg (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Is leave granted?

Louise Pratt (WA, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

For 30 seconds.

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

Thirty seconds would be fine.

John Hogg (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Leave is granted for 30 seconds.

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

Thank you, Mr President. Twice now I have sought leave to amend the sittings today to allow the proper business of this chamber to be properly dispatched. Now, clearly, some people want to make Christmas messages or something like that. This is a sequence of gagging the debate on these bills. Had the Labor Party been serious and sensible, they would have allowed the debate to have been extended as I have tried to do twice, leave for which was refused by the minister now seeking leave.

John Hogg (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

There being no objection, now leave is granted to the minister.

Joe Ludwig (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Manager of Government Business in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I move:

That the order of the Senate agreed to on 25 November 2010, as amended, relating to the days and hours of meeting and routine of business for today, be amended as follows:That, on Friday, 26 November 2010, the Senate continue to sit till 3.45 pm to consider items nos 11 and 12 on today’s Order of Business and statements, by leave relating to the end of year sittings.

Question agreed to.