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

We now go to business of the Senate notice of motion No. 4, standing in the name of Senator Wong.

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

I raise a point of order, Mr President. I understand that, for convenience, you usually batch consideration of motions, but we are moving now from general business back into business of the Senate. I wonder if we could finalise the general business, given that we were in it, and I could deal with motion No. 399.

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

I can deal with the motions if you wish me to—

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

I am requesting it.

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

You're requesting me to do it that way? In that case, I will deal with them in seriatim, which may be quite disruptive, but we will deal with them.

Senator Wong interjecting—

I will go back to general business, Senator Wong. That's what you've asked. We'll go to No. 396, standing in the names of Senators Macdonald and O'Sullivan. Senator Di Natale?

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

I'd be interested in an explanation from Senator Wong. It seems to me it's much more efficient if we are dealing with contentious motions collectively and minimising the time we have to spend on divisions.

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

It was just moving between categories.

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

I'm interested in understanding why that's a problem.

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

Order! Let me explain. I've been doing this for probably about 4½ or five years, and this is the first time anyone's challenged the way I've managed it. It is entirely a matter for the Senate. I do it purely for the convenience of senators, so they are not coming backwards and forwards to the chamber. But, if you want me to deal with one category at a time, I will deal with one category at a time.

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

Mr President, to respond to Senator Di Natale: if he's very exercised about moving his motion first, I'm happy to cede to him. But we are moving between categories. That was the point, and that is an issue I have raised before.

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

Well, we're in one major category. There are subcategories within that. This has been my practice for well over five years.

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

Mr President, I'm not particularly exercised about my motion. I'm more interested in making sure we use our time efficiently here. I don't see the point in dealing with the business in order when that means long four-minute divisions periodically. I think it makes much more sense to deal with it in the way that Senator Parry has been dealing with it.

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

I gather the chamber is happy for me to continue with the way I've ordinarily managed the business. In that case, I will now move back to business of the Senate notice of motion No. 4, standing in the name of Senator Di Natale.