Simon Birmingham (SA, Liberal Party, Minister for Finance) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek leave to move a motion relating to the consideration of legislation.

Leave not granted.

Pursuant to continent notice standing in my name, I move:

That so much of the standing orders be suspended as would prevent Senator Birmingham moving a motion to provide for the consideration of a matter, namely a motion to provide that a motion relating to the consideration of legislation may be moved immediately and determined without amendment or debate.

This motion provides for finalisation of the Fair Work Amendment (Supporting Australia's Jobs and Economic Recovery) Bill 2021, which the chamber has been debating for some number of days. It also provides for consideration of the Social Services Legislation (Strengthening Income Support) Bill 2021 and non-controversial matters for today. It preserves the Senate's opportunity to consider formal motions and have them voted upon today, as well as other ordinary business, including question time. I would also flag the government's intention to bring to the chamber later today legislation in relation to the parliamentary workplaces inquiry and the protection of information provided to the parliamentary workplaces inquiry. And I move:

That the question be now put.

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The question is that the motion moved by Senator Birmingham be now put.

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

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

Simon Birmingham (SA, Liberal Party, Minister for Finance) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I move:

That a motion relating to the consideration of legislation may be moved immediately and determined without amendment or debate.

And I move:

That the question be now put.

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek leave to make a short statement.

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Leave is granted for one minute.

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank the Senate. Here is a government in crisis. A government that has had months on this industrial relations bill is now guillotining it after being so taken by other crises that they can't negotiate with the crossbench. They are now guillotining this bill, guillotining the next bill and guillotining the bill after that, including JobSeeker legislation.

Government senators interjecting—

Yes, come on, shout at me, because that's all you've got, isn't it?

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order on my right!

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

All you've got is bluster. You've got a part-time industrial relations minister who hasn't been able to pay attention, and so now the Senate is seeing the consequences of a government in crisis, trying to ram this legislation through in 20 minutes, and trying to ram the Jobseeker legislation through in that time. The government is trying to salvage some pride by passing a bill that, on your own admission, you're going to gut because you haven't got the numbers.

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order, Senator Wong, time for the contribution has expired.

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

When are we going to have a government that actually does the job for Australians?

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order, Senator Wong!

Government senators interjecting—

Order on my right!

Senator Rennick interjecting—

Senator Rennick, when I call senators by name, I expect them to at least temporarily obey the standing orders and remain silent.

Larissa Waters (Queensland, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek leave to make a short statement.

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Leave is granted for one minute.

Larissa Waters (Queensland, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

This government couldn't arrange a chook raffle. We have a late-hours motion which has some very tricksy additional consequences. There is a little rule in there that says you can't circulate any more amendments on the IR bill with less than one hour's notice. But, hey presto, there's less than one hour to go. So they've effectively silenced everybody else from circulating any amendments, in response to their last-minute amendments, in relation to protecting workers' rights.

The other thing this motion successfully does is says that we can't vote on the sports rorts report that was due to be tabled this afternoon, that we can't speak on that. My colleague Senator Rice was going to seek to speak on that, because this government is up to its neck in corrupt activity, and it's conveniently ensured that that can't occur either. This government is in an absolute mess, but it's still managed to cover its own rear end on inconvenient matters.

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Leave is granted for one minute.

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! With my microphone, when people can't hear me yell that means there's way too much noise in the chamber.

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek leave to respond very briefly—less than 30 seconds.

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Leave is not granted.

Senator Wong interjecting—

Senator Wong, I have a question before the chair.

Honourable senators interjecting—

The PRESIDENT: (In division) Senators, I'm going to insist upon quiet, otherwise the tellers and the Clerk cannot do their jobs. I don't think anyone would like me to name anyone now, but I'm going to insist on quiet for the tellers because, with noise, they cannot conduct the count fairly. The question is that the motion moved by Senator Birmingham be now put.

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

Question agreed to.

Simon Birmingham (SA, Liberal Party, Minister for Finance) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I move:

That today:

(a) consideration of the Fair Work Amendment (Supporting Australia's Jobs and Economic Recovery) Bill 2021 be immediately and have precedence over all other business until determined;

(b) if by 1 pm consideration of the Fair Work Amendment (Supporting Australia's Jobs and Economic Recovery) Bill 2021 has not been finally considered, the questions on all remaining stages be put without debate;

(c) paragraph (b) operate as a limitation of debate under standing order 142;

(d) for the purposes of the Fair Work Amendment (Supporting Australia's Jobs and Economic Recovery) Bill 2021, the references to 2 hours in standing order 142(4) shall be read as 1 hour;

(e) following consideration of the Fair Work Amendment (Supporting Australia's Jobs and Economic Recovery) Bill 2021, the routine of business shall be consideration of the following bills:

Social Services Legislation Amendment (Strengthening Income Support) Bill 2021

Industry Research and Development Amendment (Industry Innovation and Science Australia) Bill 2021

Regulatory Powers (Standardisation Reform) Bill 2020 Special Recreational Vessels Amendment Bill 2021

Biosecurity Amendment (Clarifying Conditionally Non-prohibited Goods) Bill 2021 (subject to introduction)

Work Health and Safety Amendment (Norfolk Island) Bill 2021 Industrial Chemicals Environmental Management (Register) Bill 2020

Industrial Chemicals Legislation Amendment Bill 2020

Industrial Chemicals Environmental Management (Register) Charge (General) Bill 2020

Industrial Chemicals Environmental Management (Register) Charge (Customs) Bill 2020

Industrial Chemicals Environmental Management (Register) Charge (Excise) Bill 2020 (subject to introduction)

Family Assistance Legislation Amendment (Early Childhood Education and Care Coronavirus Response and Other Measures) Bill 2021 (subject to introduction)

(f) if by 1.45 pm consideration of the bills listed in paragraph (e) has not been completed, the questions on all remaining stages be put without debate;

(g) paragraph (f) operate as a limitation of debate under standing order 142;

(h) at 2 pm or following consideration of the bills listed in paragraph (e), whichever is later, the routine of business be questions and motions to take note of answers;

(i) following motions to take note of answers, the routine of business be as follows:

  (i) notices of motion,

  (ii) tabling and consideration of a report of the Selection of Bills Committee,

  (iii) placing of business,

  (iv) formal motions, and

  (v) tabling (only) of committee reports;

(j) divisions may take place after 4.30 pm for the purposes of formal motions only; and

(k) following the tabling of committee reports, the Senate return to its routine of business.

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

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