Ian Macdonald (Queensland, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

This debate, for Senator Xenophon's benefit, is about the suspension of standing orders. This is no way to deal with an industry that is the second-largest industry employer in our country. This shotgun approach to dealing with this important matter should not be tolerated by the Senate. I cannot believe that Senator Xenophon, with all his pious words about the sanctity and importance of the Senate, would agree to this approach to deal with this so important matter. It is essential for this to work properly that we have an ordered series of business. The government places the business. These things should be dealt with and have, in fact, as I understand it, been dealt with by the Senate two or three times already.

I have not got much time left, but I am going to move before I conclude that we extend the time for this debate so that Senator Lambie and Senator Muir can indicate their views on this important matter. I have read in the paper that they have had a change of view, and I think it might be important that we hear that. I do not want to discuss the motion that Senator Moore has flagged, but I am intending to move a motion that we delete paragraphs 3(b) and 3(c). If it is so important—and I do not think it is—to the Labor Party, the Greens and some of the crossbenchers then perhaps we should forgo question time and get on and deal with it. I see the motion as it stands means that in effect we might be here until three o'clock in the morning.