Eric Abetz (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Minister for Fisheries, Forestry and Conservation) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I move:

That this bill be now read a third time.

Question put.

Eric Abetz (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Minister for Fisheries, Forestry and Conservation) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

by leave—Clearly the result does not reflect what the intention of the Senate would be if the full complement were here. We may need to recommit.

Bob Brown (Tasmania, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

by leave—The result does exactly reflect the vote of the Senate. There is no indication to the contrary. If the government has got into some sort of mess, maybe it can make an appeal to the Senate later, but that was a valid vote of the Senate and the government has lost it.

Chris Evans (WA, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

by leave—The Labor opposition has a consistent policy of conceding to a resubmission if there has been a mistake and the result does not reflect the Senate. We will do that once the government is able to indicate that it has not had an abstention but has genuinely not had its numbers represented. If it wishes to inquire into the matter and provide an explanation then I am sure the Senate will give it due consideration.

Paul Calvert (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

If you recall, Senator, it was a one-minute bell and that may have been the problem.