Nick Xenophon (SA, Nick Xenophon Team) Share this | Hansard source

Senator Cameron said, 'Surprise, surprise!' I think it is important to put on the record that Senator Fifield I believe unintentionally misled the Senate earlier when he said there were some 25 to 30 bills that were rammed through. I remember that horror week. I think Senator Williams said it was more like 60 bills that were rammed through without debate and without proper consideration—gag after gag after gag. It was wrong. That was not how a parliament should legislate. What this motion does is to facilitate the committee stage, which will essentially be unlimited, so that the opposition and the crossbenchers and, indeed, other government members, can ask questions about this important piece of legislation. I know that Senator Collins, as the spokesperson representing the opposition in relation to this, has done an enormous amount of work, and I fully expect that her questions will not be filibustering but will be pertinent questions on the important substance of this bill. The very purpose of this motion is to allow—

Senator Cameron interjecting—

Senator Cameron is being uncharacteristically unkind. This motion is about fairness. It will allow an unlimited debate in the committee stage of this bill. I cannot see—