Mitch Fifield (Victoria, Liberal Party, Assistant Minister for Social Services) Share this | Hansard source

I seek leave to move a motion to vary the hours of meeting and routine of business for this week.

Leave granted.

I move the motion as circulated in the chamber:

That:

  (a)   the Clean Energy Legislation (Carbon Tax Repeal) Bill 2014 and 7 related bills be called on immediately, may be taken together through their remaining stages and have precedence over all government business until determined;

  (b)   on Tuesday, 15 July 2014:

     (i)   the hours of meeting shall be 12.30 pm to 6.50 pm and 7.30 pm to adjournment,

     (ii)   the routine of business from 7.30 pm shall be government business only, and

     (iii)   the question for the adjournment of the Senate shall be proposed at 9.50 pm; and

  (c)   on Thursday, 17 July 2014:

     (i)   the hours of meeting shall be 9.30 am to 6.50 pm and 7.30 pm to adjournment,

     (ii)   consideration of general business private senators’ bills under temporary order 57(1)(d)(ia) shall not be proceeded with and that government business shall have precedence for 2 hours and 20 minutes,

     (iii)   consideration of general business and consideration of committee reports, government responses and Auditor-General’s reports under standing order 62(1) and (2) shall not be proceeded with,

     (iv)   the routine of business from 12.45 pm till not later than 2 pm, and from not later than 4.30 pm shall be government business only;

     (v)   divisions may take place after 4.30 pm, and

     (vi)   if the Senate is sitting at 11 pm, the sitting of the Senate shall be suspended till 9 am on Friday, 18 July 2014;

  (d)   on each calendar day after Thursday, 17 July 2014 until the Senate has finally considered the bills listed below, including any messages from the House of Representatives:

Clean Energy Legislation (Carbon Tax Repeal) Bill 2014 and 7 related bills

Asset Recycling Fund Bill 2014

Asset Recycling Fund (Consequential Amendments) Bill 2014

Minerals Resource Rent Tax Repeal and Other Measures Bill 2013 [No. 2]

Qantas Sale Amendment Bill 2014

Land Transport Infrastructure Amendment Bill 2014,

     the hours of meeting shall be 9 am to 6.30 pm and 7.30 pm to 11 pm and if the Senate is still sitting at 11 pm, the sitting of the Senate be suspended till 9 am the following day; and

  (e)   the Senate shall adjourn after it has finally considered the bills listed in paragraph (d), or a motion for the adjournment is moved by a minister, whichever is the earlier.

In doing so, for those who may be tuned in to the proceedings of this place, I should indicate that the motion that is circulated is a motion to lay out the plan of government business for the remainder of this week. It does seek to extend hours tonight and on Thursday night. It also takes advantage of what would usually be private senator's bill time on Thursday morning and also what would be a general business time on Thursday afternoon. I acknowledge that that is time that is usually that of non-government parties—in this case, that of the opposition.

The motion also provides for the Senate to sit beyond Thursday until such time as the carbon tax repeal package of bills is dealt with. In addition, the Asset Recycling Fund Bill 2014, the Asset Recycling Fund (Consequential Amendments) Bill 2014, the Minerals Resource Rent Tax Repeal and Other Measures Bill 2013 [No.2], the Qantas Sale Amendment Bill and also the Land Transport Infrastructure Amendment Bill 2014.

Obviously the government has had as its prime objective in this first sitting fortnight of the new Senate the successful passage of the carbon tax repeal package of bills, because it seeks to give effect to an election commitment—a fundamental and solemn commitment—that the coalition made at the last election. The coalition government has, it would be fair to say, felt a little frustrated at times over the previous week in giving effect to that the election commitment. I think in the first week of the new Senate there are many things from across the chamber that perhaps should be let go through to the keeper.

I do want to indicate that chamber management is not just the responsibility of the government; it is, in fact, a collective responsibility of this place. It is even more so the case that where the governing party/ies in this place—the Liberal and National parties—do not have a majority in our own right. I think that places a particular onus on government in its dealings with other parties in this place, but I also think it puts a particular onus on all parties to make sure that this place is able to effectively conduct the people's business. Chamber management is particularly and additionally a shared responsibility between the two parties that aspire to govern—the Liberal and National parties together as one group and the Australian Labor Party as the other group. I think there have been on occasions in this place in the preceding week when some opposition party has lost focus on the bigger picture, which is really giving effect to the people's business.

I did indicate this morning when I was moving the rearrangement of business motion that there had been a leaders, managers, whips and cross-party meeting convened by Senator Abetz, the Leader of the Government in the Senate, in an effort to bring together all parties for a common purpose. It was not to bring all parties together on the outcome of the carbon tax repeal legislation, because there are different and well-known positions on that package of legislation, but to bring all the parties in this place together as far as possible in terms of the procedural arrangements for this week. We may have different positions—and obviously we strongly disagree with the Australian Labor Party and their position on the carbon tax—but we tried to bring parties together as far as possible in order to have a common procedural approach to what is a matter of great national importance and interest: the repeal of the carbon tax legislation.

I want to acknowledge that the motion I have moved does incorporate many propositions from colleagues from across the chamber—opposition, crossbench and Independent senators. We have worked very hard to seek to accommodate the respective interests of different groupings in this chamber in this motion. I want to acknowledge the contribution and assistance of the various parties in this place, including the opposition, to the formation of this motion. I commend this motion to the chamber. I look forward to having, I hope, overwhelming support for this motion so we can get on with the people's business in an orderly way and, certainly from the point of view of the government, seek to give effect to the will of the people as expressed at the last election and to at long last see the repeal of the carbon tax. I say to colleagues opposite that it is not too late to think again about your position in relation to the carbon tax. I thank the chamber for its time.