Chris Evans (WA, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Government in the Senate) Share this | Hansard source

Thank you, Mr President. I am happy to indicate that I was referring to Senator Abetz interjecting that, if I made comments like this, they would delay the bill by speaking more. I am saying that sort of approach will not work. I am happy to respond to the primary question, which is whether or not the government accepts that the Senate has the right to initiate appropriation bills. We do not. We made that very clear. We have made it clear for days, perhaps weeks, now. We have legal advice and we have the advice from the Clerk of the House of Representatives. The Clerk of the Senate has provided different advice. I respect his role and his experience, but on this occasion the government and I personally have a different view. That is competent for us to do that. The House of Representatives will deal with the message of the bill by whatever means it decides to do today. That is obviously a question for it. But, yes, we do have the view that it is not constitutional. We have sought and received advice on that. We maintain that is correct and, as a result, the House of Representatives will reflect that view when it is brought before the House of Representatives, I think, today.