Simon Birmingham (SA, Liberal Party, Minister for Finance) Share this | Hansard source

I move:

That the Senate agree to the following amendments to the temporary orders relating to formal business:

(1) Amend standing order 57, as follows:

At the end of paragraph (1)(a)(ia), add:

(ib) At 1.30 pm, statements pursuant to standing order 57(4)

At the end of paragraph (1)(b)(i), add:

(ia) At 1.30 pm, statements pursuant to standing order 57(4)

Paragraph (1)(c)(ii)

Omit "12.45 pm", substitute "12.15 pm"

At the end of paragraph (1)(c)(ii), add:

(iia) At 1.30 pm, statements pursuant to standing order 57(4)

Paragraph (1)(d)(ii)

Omit "11.45 am", substitute "11.15 am"

Paragraph (1)(d)(vii)

Omit "12.45 pm", substitute "12.15 pm"

At the end of paragraph (1)(d)(vii), add:

(viia) At 1.30 pm, statements pursuant to standing order 57(4)

Paragraph (2)

Omit "12.45 pm till 2 pm", substitute "12.15 pm till 1.30 pm"

At the end of the standing order, add:

(4) At 1.30 pm each day, for a period of not more than 30 minutes, senators may make statements without any question before the chair, provided that a senator shall not speak for more than 2 minutes and, if a division is called for it shall be taken at a later hour of the day after the time for such statements.

(2) Amend the temporary order amending standing order 66, agreed to as a temporary order on 18 June 2020, as follows:

Omit paragraphs (5) and (6), substitute:

(5) A request for the consideration of general business notices of motion as formal business shall only be recognised in respect of motions for:

(a) the consideration of legislation (including the introduction of bills);

(b) the conduct of Senate business;

(c) the conduct of committee business (including the appointment of a select committee); and

(d) proposing an order for the production of documents (including proposing further action in relation to an order for the production of documents).

(3) Amend standing order 76(8), as follows:

At the end of the paragraph, add:

", including to ensure that motions meet the definition of a particular category of business or are eligible for consideration as formal business."

(4) The amendments in paragraphs (1) to (3) shall have effect as a temporary order until the last sitting day of 2021;

(5) The temporary order amending standing order 76 restricting the length of general business notices to 200 words (with exemptions), agreed to as a temporary order on 18 June 2020, shall take effect as a permanent order.

In doing so, I wish to provide some context, briefly, and some explanation. In my time in this chamber, the consideration of formal motions has, over a period of time, become one of the most divisive, dysfunctional and disorderly elements of the Senate consideration each day.