Claire Moore (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Women) Share this | Hansard source

Earlier this week we accepted on this side that we would support the government's sitting pattern. When we indicated that support, we said that we would not be inclined to accept submissions for extra hours. Over the last fortnight there has been no urgency—no request until the last minute to come in here on the Wednesday and say, 'We want to have extra hours.' The government had adequate time to put in place times to meet their requirements. They did not. We did not return to this place until very late. We had a short period. The Senate is doing what it always does: it considers the business in front of us. Every senator has the right to make a contribution on legislation. That is what the Senate does. We will continue to consider legislation as it comes before us. We will do our job. That is the role of the Senate. If there was such urgency, there should have been some discussion earlier. There was not. We do not accept the proposition for extra hours. (Time expired)