Christine Milne (Tasmania, Australian Greens) Share this | Hansard source

The Greens are not going to stand in the way of this change that is being proposed, but I want to put it very firmly on the record that I think it is a disgraceful effort from the Labor Party and the Palmer United Party that they got themselves into such a mess that we have ended up giving up private members' time—which we have so little of in this place—to the government when in fact that bill could have been debated and finished next week. There is no reason why that could not have happened. As to giving up private members' time, we have fought so hard in this Senate to have private members' time, for the opposition parties and the crossbench, for years. And to see a debacle like this shows exactly what this Senate is going to be subjected to if people do not get their act together.

So we will allow this debate to proceed, but I want it on the record that we do not agree with giving up private members' time for government business.

Question agreed to.