Kerry O'Brien (Tasmania, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

The explanation for the adjournment is that we are due to go to certain other business at 2 pm. Given that it was not expected that the Senate would get back to the urgent and pressing business until after that and that other people, who have been in here all morning, would not be able to get back here in time, it was thought appropriate that, rather than waste the time of the Senate, we suspend for a couple of minutes, deal with those matters and then get on with the pressing business. That is the reason the government has been asking, through the parliamentary secretary, for the debate to be adjourned. It is not to avoid the debate; it is simply a matter which we think is for the convenience of the Senate.

Question agreed to.