Eric Abetz (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Deputy Leader of the Opposition in the Senate) Share this | Hansard source

Madam Temporary Chair, I rise on a point of order that relates to the previous points of order that I have raised. I think Senator Milne’s questions are perfectly reasonable and should be answered during the general stage, but at the moment the question before the Senate is whether or not the Household Stimulus Package Bill should reduce various payments from $950 to $900. That is the specific question before the chamber, and that is why, given that everybody was seeking to traverse beyond that question, some of us thought it might be a good idea to get rid of that question so we could move back to the general debate. Honourable senators voted another way—I accept that—but as a result they are now hoist by their own decision, which is that we have to concentrate on the specific amendment that is before us.