Bob Brown (Tasmania, Australian Greens) Share this | Hansard source

What a fatuous statement from the minister that was! He wants the movers of motions here to relegate to general business—and that means no debating time, effectively—matters that ought to be dealt with in this period of motions. Let me suggest to the government and to the minister that if the government wants to afford the Greens and other people in the parliament the ability to debate important issues like its own failure to adequately levy sanctions against the ruthless regime in Burma, then just flag that to us and we will have a debate. All you have to do is deny formality and we will suspend all the other processes that are required and go into a full debate, if that is what the government truly wants. But it is quite fatuous of the government to say, ‘Oh, well, there is another procedure.’

If the government is going to allow a debate on the issue of its failures as far as Burma is concerned, which enhances the Burmese ability to repress Aung San Suu Kyi, who is still under house arrest, then the Greens would welcome that greatly. I will speak to Senator Ludwig about that matter and, if we can facilitate that debate in the coming week, the Greens will be very happy to take the government up on that offer to have a decent debate, for the government to take it seriously and to organise that it be held in real business time in this parliament.