Stephen Parry (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I remind senators that the question may be put on any proposal at the request of any senator.

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

Could the clerk go through those again? We only have listed on the red the Finance and Public Administration References Committee and the Finance and Public Administration Legislation Committee as sitting today.

The Clerk: In addition to the proposals for the finance and public administration legislation and references committees to meet, as printed on the red, subsequently received were proposals from the Select Committee on Health for a private meeting today, from 4.45 pm and the Community Affairs References Committee for a public hearing today, from 7 pm.

Stephen Parry (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Again, I mention that any senator may request that the question may be put on any proposal.

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

I would just indicate that I do not think this process is working particularly well. If matters are circulated only an hour before the chamber meets, that really does not give a great deal—

Senator Ludwig interjecting—

You are leaving this place, aren't you, Senator? It is something that we have flagged in the Procedure Committee previously.

Stephen Parry (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Fifield, I think that is a matter to be discussed between whips and maybe by the Procedure Committee. This is the process we have at the moment. There has been no request to put the question, so we will continue.