Chris Evans (WA, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Government in the Senate) Share this | Hansard source

I appreciate that people have given a broad commitment to dealing with the bill today. The reason the government have sought time management, as explained by Senator Collins, is that we have an absolute necessity, in terms of the payments being made, to get to this bill today in order not to prevent the capacity for those payments to be made, given the end of the financial year.

Senator Ian Macdonald interjecting—

Senator, I just make the point that I appreciate that in discussions with the opposition they have been prepared to support the bill. It was put to the—

Senator Ian Macdonald interjecting—

The proposition—

Senator Ian Macdonald interjecting—

Senator Macdonald, have you had your go?

Senator Ian Macdonald interjecting—

No, you ought to belt up and let me give my—