Senate debates
Tuesday, 8 February 2022
Business
Rearrangement
3:02 pm
Simon Birmingham (SA, Liberal Party, Minister for Finance) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source
by leave—I move:
That today—
(a) the routine of business from 7.20 pm be consideration of the Mitochondrial Donation Law Reform (Maeve's Law) Bill 2021 (second reading speeches only);
(b) the Senate adjourn without debate at 10 pm or at the conclusion of the second reading debate, whichever is the earlier; and
(c) if a division is called for after 7.20 pm, the matter before the Senate be adjourned until the next day of sitting at a time fixed by the Senate.
Slade Brockman (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source
Senator McKim, are you seeking to speak?
3:03 pm
Nick McKim (Tasmania, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source
I am, yes. I'd like to make a 15-second contribution.
Nick McKim (Tasmania, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source
In that case, I'll crack into it, Mr President! As I indicated—
Slade Brockman (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source
You are time limited, but go ahead.
Nick McKim (Tasmania, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source
Very briefly: we won't be opposing this motion. We do understand the need for it and we don't want to stand in the way of that important legislation being debated. We just wanted to express our concern that one of the effects of this motion will be that we lose the open-ended adjournment debate this evening. We would ask the government please to consider restoring, by another motion tomorrow, the open-ended adjournment debate to tomorrow evening rather than this evening. The government will make their own response to that. I just wanted to be clear that, from the Greens' point of view, even though we're not going to oppose this motion, we are concerned that in effect it means the loss of a significant opportunity for all senators to make contributions to the adjournment debate.
Question agreed to.