Malcolm Roberts (Queensland, Pauline Hanson's One Nation Party) Share this | Hansard source

I move the following amendment to the motion:

(1) Omit paragraphs (1) to (3), substitute:

(1) The hours of meeting shall be from 9.30 am to adjournment, and the routine of business shall be:

(a) government business only;

(b) messages from the House of Representatives may be reported at any time; and

(c) at 3.30 pm, adjournment without debate.

(2) If it is the final day for consideration of a motion or motions of disallowance, the routine of business be varied to require that the motion or motions be called on for debate at 3 pm, with each senator speaking for not more than 5 minutes each, and the questions necessary to determine the motion or motions put at 3.30 pm.

We see the need for meeting on Fridays to cover more of the bills that the government wants to push through the Senate. Fridays, in my opinion, should be for government business to deal with the bills. As it is now, the government is proposing to deal with the bills for four hours, but, with the amendment that's being circulated in my name, it would be seven hours—almost doubling the amount of time. That would cut back the need for guillotines and allow proper debate of bills that the government puts up. Instead of theatre, we would like to see debate completed on those bills. Whatever the will of the Senate is, I will abide by it, but I think it is prudent to remind the Senate that we are masters of the Senate and that it is up to the Senate to decide whether it will support my amendment or not.