Stephen Parry (President) Share this | Hansard source

At 2 pm, during the last division and before question time, Senator Macdonald handed in at the table a written objection to the ruling of the Deputy President that there was no point of order in relation to business of the Senate notice of motion No. 6 moved by Senator Lazarus and agreed to then by the Senate. Standing order 198 states:

(1) If an objection is taken to a ruling or decision of the President, such objection must be taken at once and in writing, and a motion moved that the Senate dissent from the President’s ruling.

(2) Debate on that motion shall be adjourned to the next sitting day, unless the Senate decides on motion, without debate, that the question requires immediate determination.

The pressure of business right that juncture of the change from the housekeeping matters into question time, and with the Deputy President and I changing the chair, did not give opportunity for Senator Macdonald to have that matter determined. I propose that, if it is the wish of the Senate, we can determine that matter now by motion or, if Senator Macdonald wishes, that matter can be listed on the Notice Paper for the next day of business.