Katy Gallagher (ACT, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Finance) Share this | Hansard source

Labor will be opposing this motion. We understand the intent of it and we support a large part of it; however, as I've said in comments in this chamber on a number of occasions, we don't think that our policy agenda should be determined by Greens' motions during formal business in the Senate. There are a number of clauses under section (b), including section (b)(i), (b)(v), (b)(vi) and to some degree (b)(vii) which would have large fiscal implications which need to be considered. We go through our own processes for that, but it is not to be determined by the Greens' party and it is not determined during a part of the program which is meant to be noncontroversial and a way of dealing with business quickly.

Senator Waters shakes her head but the fact is there is content in this motion which would benefit from debate, which is not allowed during this part of the program.

Question negatived.