Jacinta Collins (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Parliamentary Secretary for School Education and Workplace Relations) Share this | Hansard source

by leave—I move:

That consideration of government business continue from 6.50 pm till 7.20 pm today.

Question agreed to.

by leave—I move:

That, on Thursday, 16 August 2012:

(a) the hours of meetings shall be 9.30 am to adjournment;

(b) consideration of general business private senators’ bills under temporary order 57(1)(d)(ia) shall not be proceeded with;

(c) the routine of business from 9.30 am for 2 hours and 20 minutes, from 12.45 pm to 2 pm, and from not later than 4.30 pm shall be government business only and that the order of the day relating to the Migration Legislation Amendment (Regional Processing and Other Measures) Bill 2012 shall be considered;

(d) consideration of non-controversial government business under temporary order 57(1)(d)(via) shall not be proceeded with;

(e) any proposal pursuant to standing order 75 shall not be proceeded with;

(f) consideration of general business and government documents under standing orders 57(1)(d)(x), (xi) and committee reports and government responses under 57(1)(d)(xii) shall not be proceeded with;

(g) divisions may take place after 4.30 pm; and

(h) the question for the adjournment of the Senate shall not be proposed until a motion for the adjournment is moved by a minister.

I move the motion, as circulated, that allows for the debate on the Migration Legislation Amendment (Regional Processing and Other Measures) Bill for tomorrow. Without pre-empting the vote of the Senate, I believe that the majority of senators want this bill dealt with tomorrow. It is widely recognised by the parliament and by the public that this bill is a critical element to resolving the issue of asylum seekers who come to Australia by boat. It is legislation that must be passed as soon as possible.

This is not the time to canvass the substantive matters raised in the bill, but it is the time to pass the motion that will allow us to fully debate the legislation—hopefully commencing this evening but throughout the course of tomorrow. I commend the motion to the chamber.