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

by leave—The opposition, the minor parties and the Independents, including Senator Fielding, are entitled as always to criticise the government program. However, it has usually been the case—at least when we were in opposition and the opposition were in government—that towards the end of the program it is difficult to identify what bills still need to be dealt with and what the priorities of the government are. So the opposition usually provides assistance to the government by ensuring that we do have extended hours so we can deal with the work. The reality of this place is that, until you provide a focus towards the end of the program to ensure that bills can be passed with proper scrutiny—many of the bills have already been through committees and a range of scrutiny that this place provides—the usual mechanism and the usual courtesy that is provided to the government to ensure that its legislative program is passed is to extend the sitting hours.

There are 20-odd speakers left on the Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme legislation, which highlights that this opposition is seeking to delay its passage. It is seeking to ensure that the legislation in this place is not dealt with before we finish for the year. That is the clear indication that the opposition and the minor parties have given. However, I will not call for a division on this motion because I do not want to waste any further time in dealing with it. It is clear that the opposition are only on one track and that is to delay.

Question negatived.

by leave—I move:

That immediately after motions to take note of answers, the routine of business for the remainder of the day shall be as follows:

(a)

valedictory statements, for not more than one hour;

(b)

any proposal pursuant to standing order 75;

(c)

government responses to parliamentary committee reports;

(d)

tabling of documents;

(e)

committee memberships;

(f)

general business notice of motion no. 636;

(g)

not later than 6 pm, consideration of government documents under general business; and

(h)

not later than 7 pm, consideration of committee reports, government responses and Auditor-General’s reports.

Question agreed to.