Guy Barnett (Tasmania, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

I seek leave to continue my remarks later.

Leave granted; debated adjourned.

Mr Acting Deputy President, I seek clarification about the red. Point 17 says that general business consideration of government documents is to commence not later than 6 pm, which is what we have just done. We have commenced and Senator Bartlett has spoken to report No. 1. It is my understanding that the consideration of committee reports is to commence not later than 7 pm, which means that we have enough time to consider those reports. I was wondering if I could obtain some clarification on that.

The clarification I can give you may be inadequate. If it is, you are quite welcome to seek further clarification. Because we finished the afternoon’s business 2½ hours earlier than was scheduled on the Notice Paper, the time that has expired from that point until now has been the same as usual. At this point, at seven minutes past six, we have still considered those areas in the usual amount of time.