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

At the request of Senator Collins, I move:

That there be laid on the table by the Special Minister of State, no later than 2 pm on Thursday, 3 March 2016, documents recording the agreement between the government and the Australian Greens relating to changes to Senate voting.

Richard Di Natale (Victoria, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr Deputy President, I seek leave to make a short statement.

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

Leave is granted for one minute.

Richard Di Natale (Victoria, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I am very pleased to be able to outline the details of the agreement with the coalition. The agreement is as follows: the Greens have had a longstanding position to see Senate voting reform implemented. We put that to the government, and the government agreed.

It is interesting, though: I have another agreement here. It is an agreement from 2010, and it is an agreement with the Labor Party. In fact, it is a written agreement. And in that written agreement we have a commitment from the Labor Party to support the Greens policy of campaign finance reform—political donations reform: lowering the disclosure threshold, prevention of donation splitting and preventing foreign donations. In fact, there is also an agreement to reform electoral voting in the Senate.

When it comes to a written agreement, we have the Labor Party walking away from the agreement on Senate voting reform and on campaign finance reform. The Labor Party need to recognise that their enemies are over there, not over here.

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

Mr Deputy President, I seek leave to make a one-minute statement.

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

Leave is granted for one minute.

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

I note that in saying so, neither the Greens nor the government have actually provided the full detail of this agreement. There are all sorts of claims circulating in the press. In the media today we heard that the 'senator for half measures' has prevented half of the potential double dissolutions but not the other half.

No wonder his colleagues are still backgrounding the media and raising concerns about their long-term future. If Senator Di Natale had gone full measure, he would have made sure that the requirements of the Australian Electoral Commission—who were before us in the hearing earlier this week and have a full three months after this legislation is proclaimed by the Governor-General—were being met. But, no. Again the 'senator for half-measures' has provided far less than the full three months. You ask: where does that leave other senators? That leaves other senators— (Time expired)

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

Senator Collins, you need to refer to senators by their proper titles and not speak to senators in that manner. I ask you to withdraw those comments.

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

I apologise, Deputy President. Senator Carr was distracting me for a moment. What was your question?

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

I remind all senators that they need to refer to senators in their place by their proper title and not refer to senators by other means. I ask you to withdraw those comments.

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

Indeed, I will withdraw.

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

I seek leave to make a short statement.

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

Leave has been granted for one minute.

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

Thank you, Mr Deputy President. The motion today seeks disclosure of the communication between the government and relevant departments about their radical and rushed changes to Senate voting. In question time yesterday highlighted to the minister the contradictions between the public statements of 15 and 18 February that the government had not yet made a decision and the provision of the bill to the Australian Electoral Commission on 11 February. I have a great interest in exactly what the government decided to and when. This is a matter that says full transparency and exposure after we have seen an incredible rush and a sham of an inquiry that shut down senators who had valid questions to ask. As Senator Collins has observed, it was the worst she had seen in decades in the Senate. It was certainly the worst and most chilling period of evidence taking I have experienced in my relatively short time here. Most telling was the government's refusal to allow the Department of Finance to give evidence to the inquiry.

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

The question before the chair is that general business notice of motion No. 1070 be agreed to.

Question agreed to.