Mitch Fifield (Victoria, Liberal Party, Manager of Government Business in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I move:

That, on Thursday, 15 September 2016:

(a) the hours of meeting shall be 9.30 am to adjournment; and

(b) if the Budget Savings (Omnibus) Bill 2016 has not been finally considered by 6 pm:

  (i) consideration of committee reports, government responses and Auditor-General's reports under standing order 62(1) and (2) shall not be proceeded with,

  (ii) the routine of business from not later than 6 pm shall be government business only and the order of the day relating to the Budget Savings (Omnibus) Bill 2016 have precedence over all other government business until determined,

  (iii) divisions may take place after 4.30 pm, and

  (iv) the Senate shall adjourn after it has finally considered the bill listed above, or a motion for the adjournment is moved by a minister, whichever is the earlier.

Richard Di Natale (Victoria, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek leave to make a short statement.

Stephen Parry (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Leave will be granted, I am sure. I did call for the ayes and the noes, but I have not actually called the result; however, I am happy to go back and allow you to speak as you had senators in front of you. If you are seeking leave to speak on the motion, leave is granted for one minute.

Richard Di Natale (Victoria, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I want to be clear about what we are agreeing to here. We have a bill that puts forward over $6 billion worth of savings. We were denied a public inquiry. We were denied a hearing with the appropriate length of time that is required to look into what is a broad swathe of changes to higher education policy, to renewable energy policy and to income support, which is being cut from some of the most vulnerable people in the community. Now here we are, after this government has spent the first two days of the parliament filibustering, talking about God knows what, and we are being asked to stay here to ram this bill through the parliament tonight. That is what this hours motion does. It forces us to stay here because the government has not been doing its job and given this legislation the scrutiny it needs. (Time expired)

Stephen Parry (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

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