Larissa Waters (Queensland, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

by leave—I move:

That general business notice of motion no. 533 be postponed till the next day of sitting.

Cory Bernardi (SA, Liberal Party, Shadow Parliamentary Secretary Assisting the Leader of the Opposition) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Point of order, Mr Deputy President. Firstly, in my understanding leave has to be granted to amend the motion and then there would be a separate request for leave to defer the motion or an announcement that it would be deferred until tomorrow. Is that correct? Both cannot be taken at the same time. I am not sure if the amendment has been agreed to by the Senate.

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

I think you are correct, Senator Bernardi. The motion is now withdrawn from today's order of business. Could I indicate that the Procedure Committee highlighted that there is always a problem when motions are amended on the day, no matter how simple the amendment, without prior notice. So I think the best course of action is this. This motion has now been withdrawn. It can come up again tomorrow and I am sure the matter will be discussed at the whips meeting. Are all senators clear on the course of action? The Clerk has just advised me that we need to clarify that the motion will appear in its amended form tomorrow. I think that was Senator Brown's point also. To clarify, the motion will appear tomorrow in its amended form. That was the subject of a motion which we were just putting. Senator Bernardi sought further clarification. I will now put that motion, which was moved by leave, that the amended motion be an order of business for tomorrow.

Question agreed to.