Richard Colbeck (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Agriculture) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

These bills are being introduced together. After debate on the motion for the second reading has been adjourned, I shall move a motion to have the bills listed separately on the Notice Paper.I move:

That these bills may proceed without formalities, may be taken together and be now read a first time.

Anne McEwen (SA, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr Acting Deputy President, the opposition will be asking that, in relation to the introduction of the Fair Work (Registered Organisations) Amendment Bill 2014 [No. 2], you put the question separately on the procedural element of that motion, 'that these bills may proceed without formalities'. I wish to speak briefly to that procedural motion.

I will just briefly explain why the opposition has moved that motion. I note that the opposition will support that part of the parliamentary secretary's motion that allows the Fair Work (Registered Organisations) Amendment Bill 2014 [No. 2] and the Social Services Legislation Amendment (Youth Employment and Other Measures) Bill 2015 to be taken together and read a first time. However, the opposition does not support any prospect of these bills being debated prior to the tabling of the report of the Senate committee inquiring into the bills—that is, the Senate Education and Employment Legislation Committee. We note that that committee is due to report on 11 August 2015, and the opposition understands that debate rightly can proceed at any time after that committee reports.

The opposition wishes to ensure that debate in this chamber for the rest of today continues on the Migration Amendment (Regional Processing Arrangements) Bill 2015, and I note that it was agreed earlier in the Senate chamber that that would be the only bill to be debated or to be subject to any procedural matters or conclusion today. That was also agreed outside the chamber by discussions between the major parties. The opposition will not agree to any other procedural motion or motion that brings forward any other bill for debate or any other motion that has procedural impact today. With that, I note again that the opposition is asking you to put separately that part of the motion moved by the minister that the bills may be taken together and now read a first time, and that that part of the motion that says that the bills will proceed without formalities be put to the vote of the Senate.

Richard Colbeck (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Agriculture) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek leave to make a short statement.

Christopher Back (WA, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Leave is granted. There is a question before the chair, but we have, in fact, moved to ministerial statements, I think.

Richard Colbeck (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Agriculture) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I just wanted to assure the opposition that we are not proposing to debate this piece of legislation today. It is before a committee. We understand that. So I just put that assurance on the table. I understand the concern you have raised. But this is just the presentation, and I will be moving that it be placed on the Notice Paper as several orders of the day at the conclusion of the process. But, understanding that it is before a committee, we are not looking to add anything else to the debate today, in accordance with the agreement that has been already reached with the opposition.

Christopher Back (WA, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator McEwen, armed with the information provided by the minister, do you still wish to separate the two matters?

Anne McEwen (SA, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I appreciate the minister's assurances. But just to be completely assured, the opposition would ask that the motion be put to the Senate.