Alex Gallacher (SA, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

I inform the Senate that at 8.30 am today four proposals were received in accordance with standing order 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:

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 urgency:

"The low rate of Newstart is making people sick and the Government must urgently increase the rate of Newstart to improve people's health, wellbeing and barriers to employment."

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.