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

I'm going to make a statement on a question asked by Senator Wong earlier during a division of committee-of-the-whole. There was some confusion earlier about the right of a senator to move an amendment to an amendment in relation to a bill which was subject to an order limiting time for its consideration. Where the Senate has agreed to limit time for consideration of a bill, standing order 142(4) provides that only amendments circulated two hours before expiry of that time are considered once time expires. If questions are being put after time expires, then amendments circulated less than two hours before can only be considered by leave. However, prior to time expiring, senators have all of their usual rights to propose amendments or, in this case, an amendment to an amendment. The Deputy President was correct to rule that Senator Canavan had a right to move his amendment.

A second issue in this case was that Senator Canavan was seeking to describe his amendment to the Senate but had not circulated it in writing. Senators are encouraged to circulate their amendments in writing wherever possible. This ensures that all senators are clear about the proposal they are being asked to vote on. Nevertheless, if an amendment is simple enough to clearly convey to the Senate orally, this can be done. Senators should then provide a signed copy of what was moved to the chair. I understand that Senator Canavan followed that practice by providing a signed copy during the division.