Stephen Parry (President) Share this | Hansard source

Senator Conroy, resume your seat and I will explain what has happened. Firstly, I indicated to you during the division in a point of clarification that if there was a question before the chair you could move an amendment. Senator Abetz has not only moved his motion but also moved a procedural motion, which a minister has the right to do. I cannot anticipate from this position—

Senator Conroy interjecting—

But that is the procedural motion. Those are the standing orders of the Senate. So, in relation to the point of clarification, the minister has the right to do that and now I am obliged under the standing orders to put the question.