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

At 2 pm, during the last division and before question time, Senator Macdonald handed in at the table a written objection to the ruling of the Deputy President that there was no point of order in relation to business of the Senate notice of motion No. 6 moved by Senator Lazarus and agreed to then by the Senate. Standing order 198 states:

(1) If an objection is taken to a ruling or decision of the President, such objection must be taken at once and in writing, and a motion moved that the Senate dissent from the President’s ruling.

(2) Debate on that motion shall be adjourned to the next sitting day, unless the Senate decides on motion, without debate, that the question requires immediate determination.

The pressure of business right that juncture of the change from the housekeeping matters into question time, and with the Deputy President and I changing the chair, did not give opportunity for Senator Macdonald to have that matter determined. I propose that, if it is the wish of the Senate, we can determine that matter now by motion or, if Senator Macdonald wishes, that matter can be listed on the Notice Paper for the next day of business.

Jacinta Collins (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Cabinet Secretary) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

He is not even here.

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

I know Senator Macdonald was advised that I was going to be giving this statement. We will just move on.

Honourable senators interjecting—

Order. I think it is only fair that we give Senator Macdonald—

Jacinta Collins (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Cabinet Secretary) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Not after his behaviour this morning.

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

That is a matter for me to judge, Senator Collins. He is here now. Senator Macdonald, I am not going to go through what I just said a moment ago. If you indicate that you would like your motion of dissent to go onto the Notice Paper for the next day of sitting, that can occur. Or, if another motion is moved by any senator that it requires immediate determination, that can occur.

Ian Macdonald (Queensland, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you, Mr President. I was outside and half heard what you were saying on the TV monitors, but not all of it. I did take objection at the time and I gave notice in writing of my dissent. I would like it to be put on the Notice Paper for the next day of sitting.

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

That is so done.

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

by leave—Does the dissent motion being postponed have any effect on the operation of the substantive motion and the committee?

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

No, there is no effect on the committee.