John Williams (NSW, National Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek leave to amend general business notice of motion No. 154.

Leave granted.

I, and on behalf of Senators O'Sullivan and McKenzie, move the motion as amended:

That the Senate—

(a) supports the 53 000 workers directly employed by the coal industry;

(b) recognises that the forced closure of coal–fired power stations would increase the living expenses of Australian families through increased electricity prices;

(c) acknowledges that the forced closure of coal–fired power stations would jeopardise Australia's energy security and put thousands of jobs at risk in our manufacturing sector which relies on access to cheap and affordable power;

(d) acknowledges that coal is an affordable, abundant and increasingly clean domestic energy resource that is vital to providing reliable low-cost electricity, and that it will continue to be integral to Australia; and

(e) supports technology neutral policies that deliver emission reduction targets.

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

I, too, seek leave to move an amendment to general business notice of motion No. 154.

Leave granted.

I move:

That the Senate—

Omit paragraphs (b) to (e), substitute the following:

(b) calls on the Government to develop a just transition plan to support affected workers and communities as Australia replaces coal-fired power with renewables.

An honourable senator: I have a copy of the substantial motion but not the amended one.

Stephen Parry (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

It is a very basic amendment. It is omit paragraphs (b) to (e), substituting the following, and that is (b) 'calls on the government to develop a just transition plan to support affected workers and communities as Australia replaces coal-fired power with renewables'. The question now is that the amendment moved by Senator Waters be agreed to.

An honourable senator interjecting—

I will just clarify that.

Senator Dastyari interjecting—

Senator Dastyari, let me clarify. There is a new paragraph (b). The original paragraphs (b) to (e) are to be substituted with a single paragraph (b), which I read out.

An honourable senator: I am still seeking a copy of the amendment.

I understand it has been circulated. It is deleting paragraphs (b) to (e) and putting in a new paragraph (b). The question is that the amendment moved to the motion by Senator Waters, in the terms circulated in the chamber, be agreed to.

A division having been called and the bells having been rung—

Even though I have locked the doors, I am not going to put the question just for a moment, until there is some clarity. Can I just clarify with the Leader of the Opposition—what if we defer this motion until further down the list? The doors can be unlocked and we will not proceed with the division. We have a number of motions still to deal with.