I move:

That the committee agree to the amendment made by the House of Representatives which is identical to the Senate amendment.

I move an amendment, as circulated, to the motion:

That the motion be amended as follows:

At the end of the motion, add: 'but the Senate reaffirms its constitutional right to amend bills where an amendment changes the destination of money appropriated, but does not increase the amount of proposed expenditure under a standing appropriation'.

I want to thank other parties in the chamber for the productive discussion on this. It is important that the Senate retains its very firm position that, when an appropriation bill comes before the chamber, we are entitled to extend the class of peoples who can receive the appropriation. We're not intending to increase the appropriations but to extend the class of peoples or even vary the class of peoples for whom an appropriation can be granted. I note and I'm grateful for the advice the clerks have given—indeed, Deputy President, from some of your previous rulings in relation to this. I won't repeat them, but I refer to them for the reasons why we put this amendment through. I would like to say phooey to the other place, but I understand they have a different view.

I wouldn't dare comment on that!

When the Senate considered the government amendment to the bill which the minister has moved the Senate should agree to, I made a statement indicating that the amendment would be dealt with as an amendment, not a request. This reflects the precedents of the Senate in relation to these matters. Amending a bill to change the allocation of proposed expenditure and the purpose for which money is to be appropriated has long been considered to be within the power of the Senate. Nevertheless, it is clear both options are open to the chamber. I will put the amendment if there's no further debate. The question is that the amendment moved by Senator Shoebridge to the motion be agreed to.

Question agreed to.

Original question, as amended, agreed to.

Resolution reported; report adopted.