Joe Ludwig (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Manager of Government Business in the Senate) Share this | Hansard source

I move:

That the order of general business for consideration today be as follows:

(a)

general business order of the day no. 67 (Protecting Children from Junk Food Advertising (Broadcasting Amendment) Bill 2008); and

(b)

orders of the day relating to government documents.

Question agreed to.

by leave—I will make a short statement prior to seeking to amend government business notice of motion No. 1. There are two matters. Firstly, there has been a request, from Senator Fielding, for an amendment to allow a one-hour dinner adjournment. The government does not object to that. It appears that the minor parties and the Independents might require that hour. I do not think it will significantly affect the time on Monday and Tuesday. I have only just found out about that now, so I have not had an opportunity to refer that to the opposition. If I take their nodding as I speak as being an indication that they are in agreement with that I will move the amended motion.

Secondly, in relation to the hours motion, that hours motion will then reflect both Monday and Tuesday night late, if I could use that shorthand expression. As I understand it, there was a miscommunication about that. I am happy to move the motion as stated—that is, for both Monday and Tuesday—if the opposition are satisfied with that. I offer the additional rider that of course between now and Monday if there is a view that we might want to change or swap the hours around for the Tuesday then the government will not stand in the way of negotiation to be able to accommodate the opposition, the Greens and two Independents. It is about trying to achieve the legislative timetable for the second week, and the government understand that we will only achieve that through the cooperation of all parties in the Senate. So I add that and I suspect people will hold me to it. I seek leave to amend government business notice of motion No. 1 before seeking to have the motion taken as a formal motion.

Leave granted.