Claire Moore (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Women) Share this | Hansard source

On the same point, in terms of the process it would seem to me that the responsibility of the Senate is to allow senators to bring their voices to this chamber. We now have had the original motion moved and passed in this place about the hours of business. We have had two senators bring forward their concerns about important pieces of legislation that they have tested on the floor of the Senate. There are only three such motions in front of the Senate. We have them all in front of us. They have been circulated. In turn I have listened to Senator Brandis and the other senators in here about their concerns. In terms of allowing free flow and goodwill in this place, where often goodwill is lacking when we have had only one other senator who has brought forward a motion, and the way that we have been proceeding with it has not taken a considerable amount of time—

Senator Ian Macdonald interjecting—

I actually listen always with interest to Senator Macdonald, who does not allow any other voice but his own to be heard in this place. In terms of the process, I would seek your indulgence in this process that we have a senator who has brought his position to us. We have a clear process to follow. I would argue that it would be fair play, if that is a term—I do not think there is a standing order that uses that term but perhaps there should be—to allow Senator Lazarus to test his proposition before the Senate in the very short time that he would be taking to do so.