Nick Sherry (Tasmania, Australian Labor Party, Assistant Treasurer) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

by leave—I move:

That, on Tuesday, 16 June 2009:

(a)

the hours of meeting shall be 12.30 pm to adjournment;

(b)

the routine of business after the consideration of government documents shall be government business only;

(c)

the question for the adjournment of the Senate shall be proposed at 9.50 pm or after the Senate has finally considered the following bills, whichever is the earlier:

• Social Security Legislation Amendment (Improved Support for Carers) Bill 2009 and the Social Security Legislation Amendment (Improved Support for Carers) (Consequential and Transitional) Bill 2009
• Fair Work (State Referral and Consequential and Other Amendments) Bill 2009 and the Fair Work (Transitional Provisions and Consequential Amendments) Bill 2009; and

(d)

the time limit for the adjournment debate is 40 minutes.

Steve Fielding (Victoria, Family First Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

by leave—I certainly do not want to labour the point, but are we getting a meal break? Staff work around here as well. It would be good to get a break for at least half an hour. I have made this point many times before in this chamber. Having a half-hour meal break within those changed hours would make sense. I am sorry that I have picked this up late, but it is a point that I constantly raise and I think it is a fair point.

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

by leave—Senator Fielding is absolutely right, and the break should be an hour. I have told the Leader of the Government in the Senate that we will not agree to hours like this being set again without a decent meal break. This is the end of it. Senator Fielding is right: there should be a meal break when there are extended sitting hours like these. We will not allow this to happen again unless the Senate votes otherwise.

Nick Sherry (Tasmania, Australian Labor Party, Assistant Treasurer) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I would like to indicate that I think there is an opportunity to strategically plan a meal break around the documents period from 6.50 pm. I do not want to upset senators’ meal plans. I think there is an opportunity. I understand your warning, Senator Brown, but I also know that senators are keen to be in here for the committee documents, and there is a possible opportunity to partake of some food.

Question agreed to.

I move:

That intervening business be postponed until after the consideration of government business order of the day no. 4, Social Security Legislation Amendment (Improved Support for Carers) Bill 2009 and a related bill.

Question agreed to.