Sue Lines (WA, Deputy-President) Share this | Hansard source

I inform the Senate at 8.30 am today two proposals were received in accordance with standing orders 75. The question of which proposal would be submitted to the Senate was determined by lot. As a result, I inform the Senate that the following letter has been received from Senator Siewert:

Dear Mr President, pursuant to standing order 75 I give notice that today I propose to move that, in the opinion of the Senate, the following is a matter of public importance : the devastating drought affecting parts of Australia and the need to address the causes of climate change to mitigate future droughts.

Is the proposal supported?

More than the number of senators required by the standing orders having risen in their places—

I understand that informal arrangements have been made to allocate specific times to each of the speakers in today's debate. With the concurrence of the Senate, I shall ask the clerks to set the clock accordingly.