Senate debates

Wednesday, 9 November 2016

Committees

Finance and Public Administration References Committee; Reference

3:39 pm

Photo of Helen PolleyHelen Polley (Tasmania, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Aged Care) Share this | | Hansard source

At the request of Senator McAllister, I ask that business of the Senate notice of motion No. 3, proposing a reference to the Finance and Public Administration References Committee, be taken as formal.

Photo of Stephen ParryStephen Parry (President) Share this | | Hansard source

Is there any objection to this motion being taken as formal?

3:40 pm

Photo of Rachel SiewertRachel Siewert (WA, Australian Greens) Share this | | Hansard source

Sorry, Mr President. I understand Senator Waters wants to make an amendment to this particular motion, and I am just trying to get it into the chamber. I deeply apologise.

Photo of Stephen ParryStephen Parry (President) Share this | | Hansard source

That is okay, Senator Siewert. It is great timing because Senator Waters has just arrived. We have just established formality and will now move to the point where Senators Waters, if you want, can move an amendment or seek leave to move an amendment.

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

Thank you very much, Mr President. I am sorry to detain the chamber. I have been in communication but I understand the relevant person is sick. So the negotiation has stalled. I seek leave to move an amendment to add some additional paragraphs to the proposal, which I understand were under active consideration, but, unfortunately, I have not heard back.

Photo of Stephen ParryStephen Parry (President) Share this | | Hansard source

Senator Waters, now that we have established what you want to do, I do not think you are going to get leave. What might facilitate everything in the chamber is if we put this further down the list—in fact, the bottom of the list. And, if you wanted to see if you can get some information circulated to at least the two major whips, I think that might facilitate it. So we will defer this one for the moment, if the chamber is happy. If there is no objection to that course of action, then that is what we will do.