Mr Tony Burke (Watson, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations) Share this | Hansard source

by leave—I move:

That so much of the standing and sessional orders be suspended as would prevent the following from occurring in relation to proceedings on the Constitution Alteration (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice) 2023:

(1) on Tuesday, 23 May the order of the day relating to the second reading debate on the Constitution Alteration (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice) 2023 being immediately called on following the conclusion of the matter of public importance, and any division or quorum deferred under standing orders 55 and 133;

(2) the second reading debate on the Constitution Alteration (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice) 2023 continuing without interruption until the commencement of the adjournment debate at 7.30pm;

(3) notwithstanding standing order 31, if the second reading debate has not concluded earlier, at 8 pm on Tuesday, 23 May, the bill being called on for further consideration, with the second reading debate continuing until either:

(a) no further Members rise to speak; or

(b) 10pm;

at which point, debate being adjourned and the House immediately adjourning until Wednesday, 24 May at 9am;

(4) on Wednesday, 24 May when the order of the day relating to the second reading debate on the Constitution Alteration (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice) 2023 is called on following the conclusion of the matter of public importance, the second reading debate on the Constitution Alteration (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice) 2023 continuing without interruption until the commencement of the adjournment debate at 7.30 pm;

(5) notwithstanding standing order 31, if the second reading debate has not concluded earlier, at 8 pm on Wednesday, 24 May, the bill being called on for further consideration, with the second reading debate continuing until either:

(a) no further Members rise to speak; or

(b) 10 pm;

at which point, debate being adjourned and the House immediately adjourning until Thursday, 25 May at 9 am; and

(6) any variation to this arrangement being made only on a motion moved by a Minister.

I thank the Manager of Opposition Business for the consultation on this. I will explain the motion. All this means is that tonight and tomorrow night the debate will continue until 10 pm. If you're listed to speak on the adjournment, those speeches will still happen between 7.30 and 8 pm tonight and tomorrow night. There is still no intention that we have a vote on the bill itself until next week.

Question agreed to.

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