Nick Xenophon (SA, Independent) Share this | Hansard source

Thank you, Minister. Senator Macdonald is right. I believe the process is unsatisfactory, but the longer I talk about how unsatisfactory and unfair it is, the less time I will have to move the amendments I need to move, which have been on the table for quite some time and which are worthy of debate, relating to significant and substantial amendments to the bill. I wonder could the coalition indicate whether they would be prepared, once the minister has responded to Senator Macdonald's substantial questions, to have a vote on this very worthy amendment—which I have co-sponsored with Senator Birmingham—that these bills be delayed until after the next election. Even if I dealt as efficiently as possible with my amendments, it would take me the best part of an hour. So I indicate that I am keen for this question to be put in the next 25 to 30 minutes. The incredible time constraints are not exactly fair, given that we should be debating this very important piece of legislation for at least the rest of the week. Given all that, I flag to my colleagues that I am very keen for this particular question to be put in the next 25 minutes.