Matthew Canavan (Queensland, Liberal National Party) Share this | Hansard source

Could I seek some clarification? I apologise for not getting to this before the vote, but I just had a look at Odgers', and an amendment cannot be moved if it is a direct negative to the motion. My understanding is that Senator Antic's motion was to refer this to a committee. Senator McKim's amendment—which I only got just before the vote, so I apologise for my timing—was not to refer it to a committee. To me it seems that's a pretty open-and-shut clear case of being a direct negative and therefore the amendment should be ruled out of order.