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

Senator Williams, under No. 154 we got to the stage where a division was called. Is everyone happy if I move back to that point where the division was called? Is everyone clear?

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

I seek leave of the Senate to add my name to Senator Williams's very good motion—also, perhaps, could I add the name of Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk, who agrees with this motion?

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

You cannot—that is not in order. But we can certainly add your name. Is the Senate happy for me to put the question on 154, as we tried to do earlier? It is the amendment moved by Senator Waters to Senator Williams's motion. Is everyone clear what we are voting on?

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

by leave—Mr President, can I indicate my gratitude to you and the chamber for your forbearance on the previous occasion as I sought to get some instructions. Can I indicate this on behalf of the opposition: I understand that the amendment has not been provided. I appreciate Senator Waters would say it has been circulated in the chamber, but it certainly was not brought to the attention of the relevant shadow ministers. In those circumstances we are not in a position to support it, notwithstanding the fact that Labor has indicated our support for a just transition in the coal industry. Obviously these are matters of some complexity and we would, in ordinary circumstances, ensure that the spokespeople on behalf of the Labor Party had the opportunity to consider this before the Labor Party voted.

I did want to put that on the record to indicate why we are not in a position as yet to support the amendment. It may well be that we will get voting instructions accordingly. I would ask that senators consider in those circumstances whether it is entirely necessary for such a motion to be voted on this side of Christmas and whether it could simply be deferred until the next sitting day.

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

Mr President—

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

Is this on the same matter? Normally we allow one senator per party to speak on these matters. Again, if you get leave, you can speak

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

I seek leave to speak very briefly.

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

Is leave granted? Leave is granted for one minute.

John Williams (NSW, National Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

On a point of clarification, Mr President: do we stop discussion of motions at 4.30?

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

No, we do not. I will clarify to the chamber that we go through until we complete formal business. Senator Collins, you have one minute in which to make your remarks.

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

Thank you, Mr President, and I thank you for your cooperation in this matter. One additional point I would like to highlight, which I myself experienced and it led to some confusion in relation to a motion to refer a matter to the privileges committee, is that I think we may need to review the chamber circulation procedures. It seems as if, when senators understand their motions have been circulated, that they are not necessarily reaching the appropriate people.

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

Thank you, Senator Collins. I will take that as a reference probably to the Procedure Committee, and we might look at that at the next Procedure Committee meeting. The new Clerk will look at it as the new secretary of the Procedure Committee—we are loading up his plate already. The question is that the amendment moved by Senator Waters to Senator Williams's notice of motion No. 154 be agreed to.

Question negatived.

The question is that notice of motion No. 154 moved by Senator Williams be agreed to.