Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Hansard source

Pause the clock. Senator Steele-John, I counselled senators before that this is not a debate on the motion that you are seeking to have the Senate deal with. This is a motion on why the Senate should deal with it and why standing orders should be suspended. You have been speaking for 44 seconds, and I have heard references to the substantive issue. I am not going to see the Senate's time in this section of debate become longer and longer. It is not reasonable for the great majority of senators. This is a debate on the suspension of standing orders, and I call you to that specific motion, not the motion you seek to have the Senate address.