John Williams (NSW, National Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I, and also on behalf of Senator Joyce, Senator Nash, Senator Scullion, Senator Boswell and Senator McKenzie, move:

That the Senate notes:

  (a)   Wednesday, 28 March 2012 marks 100 years since the formation of the Farmers' and Settlers' Association in Western Australia;

  (b)   the Farmers' and Settlers' Association formed the Country Party, which in turn became the National Party;

  (c)   the party has served on the Federal Government benches longer than any other political party in Australia's history;

  (d)   that the party has produced three Prime Ministers in Sir Earle Page, Sir Arthur Fadden and Sir John McEwen; and

  (e)   The Nationals have an outstanding record of delivery for regional Australia.

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

I move an amendment so that the words 'an outstanding' be replaced with the words—

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

You need to seek leave. Is leave granted?

Leave not granted.

The question is that the motion moved by Senator Williams be agreed to.

Nick Xenophon (SA, Independent) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

by leave—I indicate that I supported this motion with some reluctance because I think it does set a precedent in terms of the self-congratulatory nature of it. But I indicate to my colleagues in the Australian Greens that if they put up a motion praising their advocacy for environmental issues, I would be quite happy to support that as well.