Peter Whish-Wilson (Tasmania, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I ask that general business notice of motion No. 31, standing in my name for today, relating to human rights be taken as a formal motion.

Gavin Marshall (Victoria, Deputy-President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Is there any objection to this motion being taken as formal.

Claire Moore (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Women) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr Deputy President, I take my chance to congratulate you as well. We are denying this particular motion being taken as formal. I believe that information has been provided to Senator Whish-Wilson on our reasons.

Gavin Marshall (Victoria, Deputy-President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

If you wish to make a statement, you will need to seek leave.

Claire Moore (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Women) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek leave to make a short statement on our reasons for denying formality.

Leave granted.

I believe Senator Whish-Wilson has been made aware of this. For the sake of the record, I need to state the reasons. It is a standing position that we put on the record several times in the last sitting of the Senate—and we put it on record again. Consistent with the statement made by the Leader of the Opposition in the Senate, Senator Wong, on 25 March 2014, the opposition does not believe that complex and contested matters, including specifically matters that concern foreign affairs and relations, should be dealt with in the summary fashion by this chamber. Serious issues deserve serious consideration—not a vote take in summary form without a word of debate. This motion sought to be moved by Senator Whish-Wilson deals with matters related to serious human rights abuses and the interaction between foreign policy and trade policy. No-one should mistake our decision to deny formality with support for any discrimination under any legal system based on race, gender, religious belief or sexuality.