Mr Tony Burke (Watson, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the House) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr Speaker, happy new year! I move:

That so much of the standing and sessional orders be suspended as would prevent the following:

(1) the Member for Wentworth moving a motion relating to antisemitism;

(2) each Member speaking for no longer than five minutes;

(3) amendments to the motion not being permitted;

(4) the question on the motion being put no later than 1.25 pm;

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

In putting forward that motion, let me just say the following: antisemitism is a vile form of hatred. It is as vile as it is evil as it is ancient. There is plenty of time in the parliament, as there always has been, for us to debate a range of issues on social cohesion. But the member for Wentworth has, in consultation with a range of people across the parliament, put together a resolution which has us dealing with antisemitism and nothing else for this particular debate. I thank the member for Wentworth for doing that. The member for Wentworth is creating an opportunity for the parliament to simply come together and make one very clear statement—that we will argue on many other things but there is no argument from the people in this parliament that antisemitism is anything other than unacceptable and evil and must end. I commend the motion to the House and indicate that I won't be wanting us to have a long debate on this, because that will then interfere with us having a debate on the motion itself.

Michael Sukkar (Deakin, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Social Services) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I move, as an amendment:

That clause (3) be omitted.

We object to a practice which this government has used consistently, and that is to remove the ability of the opposition to move amendments to motions like this. The first point to make is that it's utterly extraordinary in our view that the government is not leading this moment. It is extraordinary in the opposition's view that the government could not find it within itself to move this motion. On that basis, we believe that it's appropriate—

Milton Dick (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The manager will pause. A point of order?

Mr Tony Burke (Watson, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the House) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

We are wanting to get on with the motion itself. I move:

That the question be now put.

Milton Dick (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The question is that the question be now put. In accordance with standing order 133, the division is deferred until after the discussion of the matter of public importance. The debate on this item is therefore adjourned until that time.