Don Farrell (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Trade and Tourism) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek leave to move a motion relating to the hours of meeting and routine of business this week.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Is leave granted?

Leave not granted.

Don Farrell (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Trade and Tourism) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Pursuant to contingent notice standing in the name of the Leader of the Government in the Senate, Senator Wong, I move:

That so much of the standing orders be suspended as would prevent me moving a motion to provide for the consideration of a matter, namely a motion to provide that a motion relating to the hours of meeting and routine of business this week may be moved immediately and determined without amendment or debate.

I move:

That the question be now put.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Birmingham?

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

President, what we have here is an attempt from the government to guillotine its guillotine.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Birmingham—

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

The government are seeking to guillotine their own guillotine because they don't want to have debate—

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Birmingham, I'm calling you to order.

Opposition senators interjecting—

Order on my left! Senator Birmingham, I—

Honourable senators interjecting—

Senator McGrath and Senator Gallagher! Order on both sides of the chamber! Senator Birmingham, you stood, I gave you the call, and then you didn't call a point of order. I asked you to sit. In future, when I ask you to sit, I should not have to ask a leader of a political party to sit three or four times. The question is that the question be put.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The question is that the motion to suspend standing orders, moved by Senator Farrell, be agreed to.

Don Farrell (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Trade and Tourism) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I move:

That a motion relating to hours of meeting and routine of business this week may be moved immediately and determined without amendment or debate.

I also move:

That the question now be put.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Birmingham, I am going to give you the benefit of the doubt.

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

President, can I seek clarification here. Is the outcome of the government's motion that the opposition is denied any right to speak at all to its substantial variation of hours for the rest of the week? Is that what the government is seeking to do, to deny any dissent or disagreement?

Honourable senators interjecting—

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! On my left and right. Order across the chamber! The motion as moved by the minister is that the question be now put, and that's what I intend to put. The question is that the motion moved by Senator Farrell that the question be put be agreed to.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

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

Don Farrell (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Trade and Tourism) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

FARRELL (—) (): I move:

That—

(1) Today:

(a) the routine of business after formal motions be consideration of the following bills:

(i) National Reconstruction Fund Corporation Bill 2023, and

(ii) Safeguard Mechanism (Crediting) Amendment Bill 2023;

(b) the time allotted for the remaining stages of the National Reconstruction Fund Corporation Bill 2023 be as follows:

(i) after formal motions—question to be put on the second reading, and

(ii) at 8 pm—questions to be put on all remaining stages;

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

(d) divisions may take place after 6.30 pm for the purposes of the National Reconstruction Fund Corporation Bill 2023 only;

(e) a motion to adjourn or close the debate on the second reading of the Safeguard Mechanism (Crediting) Amendment Bill 2023 may only be moved by a minister; and

(f) the Senate adjourn without debate at the conclusion of the second reading debate on the Safeguard Mechanism (Crediting) Amendment Bill 2023, or on the motion of a minister, whichever is earlier.

(2) On Wednesday, 29 March 2023:

(a) the hours of meeting be 9 am till adjournment;

(b) the routine of business after formal motions be government business only;

(c) divisions may take place after 6.30 pm; and

(d) the Senate adjourn without debate on the motion of a minister.

(3) On Thursday, 30 March 2023:

(a) the routine of business from 9 am till 11.15 am be government business only;

(b) if consideration of the following bills has not concluded by 1 pm, the questions on all remaining stages be put without debate:

(i) Safeguard Mechanism (Crediting) Amendment Bill 2023, and

(ii) Royal Commissions Amendment (Enhancing Engagement) Bill 2023; and

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

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

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