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

I seek leave to make a short statement in relation to private senators' bills. I did clear this with Senator Ruston.

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Leave is granted for one minute.

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

I just want to take the opportunity to put on the record some of the issues that we've been having in relation to private senators' bills and the listing of particular bills. Since the establishment of the 46th Parliament, we've had informal discussions around how this should be handled amongst parties, really around the time frame for introduction of bills and then debate. The informal agreement is that there should be enough time that elapses that parties are able to go through their own internal processes to agree to or to get positions on particular private senators' bills prior to them being listed. We have had some issues in the past. With the two bills listed to be debated today, the Labor Party haven't been allowed to go through our processes. Our first opportunity to discuss these bills will be tomorrow. But we do appreciate—I sincerely appreciate—the effort that Senator Siewert went to with her colleagues and Senator Ruston last week when this was identified, in resolving it so that these bills will be debated today but will not proceed to a vote, which will allow us to take them through our processes. But we would like to ensure that other crossbench members are aware of this in the listing of bills, and perhaps there will be an opportunity for whips to discuss this informally and reach agreement. Probably even better would be that parties are advised by the government of what bills are going to be listed prior to the motion being moved here on the Thursday morning. That would assist as well. We'd just like to place that on the record and ensure that today's debate goes ahead smoothly but without us being put in a position where we have to cast a vote on a bill that hasn't been through our party room.

Rachel Siewert (WA, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

by leave—This issue has been discussed. We had discussed it previously. Of course, the timing of private business has changed from our previous routine. We acknowledge that this week it was unfortunate in the way it worked out, but this morning, at whips, we did discuss this. We have reconfirmed the process, and now we'll pull a week forward when we place bills on the Notice Paper. The government did commit, when we were discussing it, to draft a note about it, and we also committed that we would inform the rest of the crossbench. I appreciate the comment that the opposition has made. It is being dealt with, and we will commit to that process. But I do also thank the opposition and the government for the way that we resolve this current private members' time.