Richard Di Natale (Victoria, Australian Greens) Share this | Hansard source

I am disappointed that both the government and the opposition have voted against this motion. Given that there is a review currently underway, it would not have harmed that review to give specific consideration to an amendment of standing order 50 on the Lord's Prayer. I am flagging now that Senator Siewert, who is the Greens' representative on the Procedure Committee, will be raising this issue specifically with the Procedure Committee. We are doing this because we live in a country where there is a clear separation between church and state. We live in a country of many different faiths—in fact, a country where many people have no faith—and a modern Australian parliament should reflect that. We do say that there should be some opportunity for reflection or, indeed, prayer, if people feel that way, and that is why we would like to see a minute at the start of each day in this place being offered for that reason.