Bob Day (SA, Family First Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I ask that general business notice of motion No. 668, standing in my name and in the name of Senator Leyonhjelm for today, relating to the Australia-Israel Chamber of Commerce, be taken as a formal motion.

Stephen Parry (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

Yes.

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

The motion is not accepted as formal.

Bob Day (SA, Family First Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek leave to make short statement.

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

Leave is granted for one minute.

Bob Day (SA, Family First Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

This motion has received substantial backing from people across Australia who support Australia's ties with Israel, and I would like to thank those people for contacting me and their MPs. I will not recite the terms of the motion, because every item is factual and uncontroversial. When it comes to formality on motions touching on foreign affairs, there are clearly no hard and fast rules in this place, as formality on foreign affairs topics has been permitted on no less than nine occasions in the past 12 months.

I put on record my disappointment over Labor's obstruction of this motion supporting Israel. Due to a busy agenda, however, I will not move for a suspension of standing orders and a debate, but I indicate to the Senate that I am committed to securing a statement in support of our ties with Israel and will bring this matter back to the Senate, again, in the near future.