Senate debates

Wednesday, 17 June 2015

Bills

Renewable Energy (Electricity) Amendment Bill 2015; In Committee

6:05 pm

Photo of Larissa WatersLarissa Waters (Queensland, Australian Greens) Share this | | Hansard source

Pursuant to standing order 115(2), I move:

That the Renewable Energy (Electricity) Amendment Bill 2015, together with the circulated amendments to the bill, be referred to the Environment and Communications Legislation Committee for inquiry and report by 22 June 2015.

The CHAIRMAN: The question is that the committee report progress.

A division having been called and the bells being rung—

The CHAIRMAN: Senator Waters, for your information, I cannot deal with that motion in committee. I need to go out of committee to deal with it. I do understand that you were trying to seek the call prior to us going in committee, so I am not critical in any way of this; it is just that I do now need to report progress and move out of committee.

Photo of Simon BirminghamSimon Birmingham (SA, Liberal Party, Assistant Minister for Education and Training) Share this | | Hansard source

I understand that there was a misunderstanding in relation to the time at which Senator Waters was seeking the call and that she may have been seeking the call prior to entering into the committee stage. With that in mind, we request to withdraw the division and will allow a return out of the committee stage.

Leave granted.

The CHAIRMAN: The question is now that progress be reported.

Question agreed to.

Progress reported.