Cory Bernardi (SA, Australian Conservatives) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I move:

That the Senate—

(a) notes the Trump administration in the United States of America has declared 7 November to be the National Day for Victims of Communism;

(b) further notes the Senate motion passed on 18 October 2017 rejecting any assertion that the teachings of Lenin or Marx should be celebrated in a liberal democracy;

(c) recalls the number of refugees who came to Australia fleeing communist regimes; and

(d) calls upon the Government to organise a similar annual commemoration remembering the victims of communism from 7 November 2018 onwards.

Katy Gallagher (ACT, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek leave to make a short statement.

Scott Ryan (President, Special Minister of State) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Leave is granted for one minute.

Katy Gallagher (ACT, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

This motion is identical to the motion moved in the chamber just two days ago, I think, where the opposition denied formality to it. I explained at the time that we believe motions like this, on topics like this, should not be dealt with by a simple motion of the Senate but should allow the opportunity for debate. In the interests of the smooth running of the chamber and in acknowledgement that Senator Bernardi desires to move several motions every day and that this will continue, we won't be denying formality to the motion. But our position remains that this simple motion is the wrong way to deal with this topic, and we will be opposing it.

Question agreed to.