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

I move:

That standing order 18 establishing the Committee of Privileges be amended by omitting paragraph (3), and substituting:

(3)

The committee shall consist of 7 senators, 3 nominated by the Leader of the Government in the Senate, 3 nominated by the Leader of the Opposition in the Senate and 1 nominated by other parties and independent senators.

Stephen Parry (Tasmania, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

by leave—I wish to make a short statement. The coalition will be voting against Senator Brown’s motion simply because we believe that all matters relating to procedure, such as amendments to the standing orders, should be dealt with by the correct committee, which is the Procedure Committee. While the coalition may see merit in the issue that Senator Brown is putting forward, we are not going to debate the issue, which should be discussed by the Procedure Committee. These are complex matters and we do not agree with just discussing them as a notice of motion or having them moved in the Senate in this fashion. As I have stated, we believe that the correct procedure should be followed, which is why we have the Procedure Committee in the Senate.

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

by leave—notice was given some six weeks ago. The correct procedure for a very simple and non-complex matter is for the Senate to be able to make up its mind on whether there should be a member of the crossbench on the privileges committee. That is as about as simple as it comes, and I recommend the motion to the Senate.

Question put.