Steve Fielding (Victoria, Family First Party) Share this | Hansard source

I move:

At the end of the motion, add “, but the Senate is of the opinion that, instead of restructuring question time in a manner that could reduce the accountability of ministers to the Senate, the rules relating to questions and answers, contained in past presidential rulings, which require, amongst other things, that questions actually be questions relating to ministerial responsibilities, and that answers be responsive and relevant to the questions, be written into the standing orders, and that the Procedure Committee, with the assistance of external expert advisers, review the effectiveness of question time and the application of those rules at the end of each period of sittings”..

At the end of my speaking time I will seek leave to continue my remarks to make sure there is no vote on this tonight and to give people plenty of time to look at the motion and my proposed amendment over the weekend.