Senate debates Bills
Auditor-General Amendment Bill 2011; In Committee
Debate resumed.
John Hogg President
The question is that amendments (1) to (10) on sheet 7163 moved by Senator Ryan be agreed to.
Question put.
A division having been called and the bells being rung—
Bob Brown Tasmania, Australian Greens
As Senator Williams took a point of order, Senator Joyce just crossed the chamber without bowing and scraping. I ask you to call him to order.
John Hogg President
Senator Bob Brown, I was engaged in other matters. I did not witness it. I have reminded senators of the standing orders.
Barnaby Joyce Queensland, National Party, Leader of The Nationals in the Senate
Mr President, it was rightly pointed out by Senator Bob Brown and I accept the admonishment. I now will cross the chamber and properly, as I should, acknowledge the chair. Now that he has pointed this out, I expect him to respect the same ruling himself.
John Hogg President
Senator Joyce, there is no point of order. That is not a matter for debate.
The Senate divided. [21:57]
(The President—Senator Hogg)
Question negatived.
Joe Ludwig Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Manager of Government Business in the Senate
I table an addendum to the explanatory memorandum relating to the Personal Property Securities Amendment (Registration Commencement) Bill 2011.
Ian Macdonald Queensland, Liberal Party, Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Northern and Remote Australia
Mr President, I rise on a point of order. How can I possibly vote on that bill when I have not even seen the addendum? This is a ridiculous procedure where the Greens and the Labor Party have been guillotining the bill through and they are changing it as we go. We do not even have a chance to read what he has just tabled.
John Hogg President
The question is that the remaining stages of the Auditor-General Amendment Bill 2011, the Personal Property Securities Amendment (Registration Commencement) Bill 2011, the Competition and Consumer Amendment Bill (No. 1) 2011—Senator Fifield on a point of order.
Mitch Fifield Victoria, Liberal Party, Manager of Opposition Business in the Senate
Mr President, I rise on a point of order. The opposition may well be voting differently on different bills. I ask that they might be put separately.
John Hogg President
Which bills? If you can indicate to me which bills then I will put those bills separately for you.
Mitch Fifield Victoria, Liberal Party, Manager of Opposition Business in the Senate
The Auditor-General Amendment Bill 2011. Could we commence with that one?
Mitch Fifield Victoria, Liberal Party, Manager of Opposition Business in the Senate
At this stage.
John Hogg President
The motion that has been put on the record requires me to put these bills together unless you can identify for me which bills to separate and the you vote a different way.
Mitch Fifield Victoria, Liberal Party, Manager of Opposition Business in the Senate
Mr President, I shall do so. I recognise that we are in that twilight zone that is the government's guillotine. It is indeed a peculiar circumstance where senators have to indicate how they are going to vote before they have actually voted.
John Hogg President
The determination of this chamber, not my determination, was that there was a certain procedure to be followed upon certain stages being reached during the evening. That resolution determines that I should now put the remaining stages of the bills that I was just reading out. If there is some reason that would cause people to vote differently then I need a reason to be able to separate those out. That is reasonable.
Mitch Fifield Victoria, Liberal Party, Manager of Opposition Business in the Senate
I can indicate that the opposition will be voting differently on the Auditor-General Amendment Bill 2011 to how we will be voting on the other bills, but I do note Senator Macdonald's point that we do not know what the additional information tabled by Senator Ludwig is. Who knows? It may have some dramatic and profound impact on our current intention in relation to the Personal Property Securities Amendment (Registration Commencement) Bill 2011.
John Hogg President
In which case, Senator Fifield, I will put the Auditor-General Amendment Bill separate to the others and I will deal with that bill first. The question is that the remaining stages of the Auditor-General Amendment Bill be agreed to and the bill be now passed.
The Senate divided. [22:06]
(The President—Senator Hogg)
Question agreed to.