Jan McLucas (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Parliamentary Secretary for Disabilities and Carers) Share this | Hansard source

I join this debate reluctantly, but just to put a bit of practical advice into the chamber if I could be so bold. It is currently quarter past four. The motion says that if we pass this motion we will have two hours to debate the National Disability Insurance Scheme. We have spent all of this morning in committee. The legislation was actually introduced to the House of Representatives last year. We have had an extended second reading debate on the National Disability Insurance Scheme, and no speaker was curtailed. If we were to stop the grandstanding—and I do apologise, Senator Birmingham, but I think you were more or less debating the media laws rather than an hours motion—and get on with the business of dealing with this, we would have two more hours in committee to deal with the National Disability Insurance Scheme.

We all agree about the bipartisanship—the tripartisanship, in fact—around this bill; it is a very important bill. So I do urge the Senate to consider that in the passage of this debate.