Michael Ronaldson (Victoria, Liberal Party, Shadow Special Minister of State and Scrutiny of Government Waste) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I have been told by the whip that I have 30 seconds. I think I can renegotiate that to a minute. I want to make a very quick comment in relation to this matter. It is a pity that we have had to go through a convoluted process, quite frankly, to get this non-controversial Electoral and Referendum Amendment (Pre-poll Voting and Other Measures) Bill 2010. The government breached convention in relation to these electoral bills. Historically, they have always gone in by way of two packages—one controversial and one noncontroversial. The government chose to bring them in together—so one bill with controversial and one with non-controversial measures. That of course then failed and they were required to split the bills according to convention and bring them back. I hope the government have learned a salutary lesson in relation to this matter.

Joe Ludwig (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Manager of Government Business in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I am not aware of any convention, but I am happy to try to do that in the future. I thank the Senate.

Question agreed to.

Bill read a second time.