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

I move:

That so much of the standing orders be suspended as would prevent the Manager of Opposition Business from moving the following motion immediately:

That the House:

(1) notes that:

(a) thanks to this Prime Minister, members opposite have voted more times to shut down debate than they have voted on legislation;

(b) if the government cuts short debate on the next bill, it will be the second time this week that the Prime Minister has shut down debate on a bill of critical importance; and

(c) this Prime Minister has a disdain for democratic debate; and

(2) Invites the Prime Minister to attend the chamber and make a statement on this matter.

It would be extraordinary if a bill which is meant to be about process were not allowed to be debated. It would be extraordinary if a bill which will have a permanent impact on the environment of Australia and on the heritage of Australia were not to be properly debated in this House. It would be extraordinary if we were to find ourselves in a situation where, in the same week that the government has said that under no circumstances should they be handing over foreign powers to state governments, they do exactly that.

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