Mitch Fifield (Victoria, Liberal Party, Assistant Minister for Social Services) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I move:

That—

(a) if by 8 pm on Thursday, 20 March 2014, the following bills have not been finally considered:

     Clean Energy Legislation (Carbon Tax Repeal) Bill 2013

     Ozone Protection and Synthetic Greenhouse Gas (Import Levy) Amendment (Carbon Tax Repeal) Bill 2013

     Ozone Protection and Synthetic Greenhouse Gas (Import Levy) (Transitional Provisions) Bill 2013

     Ozone Protection and Synthetic Greenhouse Gas (Manufacture Levy) Amendment (Carbon Tax Repeal) Bill 2013

     True-up Shortfall Levy (General) (Carbon Tax Repeal) Bill 2013

     True-up Shortfall Levy (Excise) (Carbon Tax Repeal) Bill 2013

     Customs Tariff Amendment (Carbon Tax Repeal) Bill 2013

     Excise Tariff Amendment (Carbon Tax Repeal) Bill 2013

     Clean Energy (Income Tax Rates and Other Amendments) Bill 2013

     Minerals Resource Rent Tax Repeal and Other Measures Bill 2013,

     the Senate shall not adjourn, the routine of business from not later than 8 pm shall be government business only, and the Senate shall continue to sit until it has finally considered these bills, or a motion for the adjournment is moved by a minister, whichever is the earlier; and

(b) divisions may take place after 4.30 pm.

I seek leave to make a short statement.

Cory Bernardi (SA, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Leave is granted for one minute.

Mitch Fifield (Victoria, Liberal Party, Assistant Minister for Social Services) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

This motion seeks to provide the opportunity for the carbon and mining taxes repeal bills to be put to a vote this week in the Senate. Australians have made their opinion on these taxes overwhelmingly clear at the federal election last September. I think it is incumbent on those opposite to cease to defy the will of the Australian people. I understand those opposite are obviously keen to postpone a vote on these two packages of bills until after the Western Australian Senate election. I think it is important to note that these bills, in particular the carbon tax package, commenced debate in early December 2013—that is, last year. It is high time that these bills came to a vote and supporting this motion would provide the opportunity for these two sets of bills, upon which the Australian people have clearly expressed a view, to be voted on.

Christine Milne (Tasmania, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek leave to make a short statement.

Cory Bernardi (SA, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Leave is granted for one minute, Senator Milne.

Christine Milne (Tasmania, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I just want it noted that it was the government who removed the clean energy package, particularly the carbon pricing legislation, from debate and replaced it with the mining tax package. We were in the committee stage and we are at the point of being able to vote on the bill. So there is no need to support this; just put it back on and it will be voted on.

John Hogg (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The question is that government business notice of motion No. 1 standing in the name of Senator Fifield be agreed to.