Mr Tony Burke (Watson, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for the Arts) Share this | Hansard source

If the motion that I'd moved as a suspension used the device for suspension to say the debate will now stop, then I hear that argument. But it doesn't do that. It invites a minister to move. It's an invitation for a minister to move. Clause (a) is descriptive in my motion. Clause (b) is descriptive, and that's clearly allowed within the terms and the standing orders and doesn't get in the way of this bill being dealt with tonight. In fact, if this entire suspension is carried, the motion that I've put forward is then moved and carried by the House, the resolution that was moved earlier today still holds. This doesn't get in the way of any of that. It simply means there will have been a resolution of the House asking the minister to do something which the minister is allowed to do in the terms of what was carried.

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