Andrew Giles (Scullin, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Immigration, Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I move:

That the Referendum (Machinery Provisions) Amendment Bill 2022 be referred to the Joint Standing Committee on Electoral Matters for inquiry and report by 10 February 2023.

I think this will allow the bill to be properly considered. It proposes some significant changes. It is a longstanding tradition of this parliament, not just this House, that changes to the rules through which we are all elected need to be worked through properly, and ideally have the confidence of all members and senators. I see the chair of the joint standing committee, the member for Jagajaga, here. She's been given some significant work to do over the summer break and we, as a parliament, thank her and her colleagues on the committee for that. This is an appropriate course of action for something which carries significant consequences, and so I move that the referral take place.

Question agreed to.