Anthony Chisholm (Queensland, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I present the final report of the Select Committee on Administration of Sports Grants, together with the Hansard record of proceedings and documents presented to the committee. I seek leave to move a motion in relation to the report.

Leave not granted.

Unidentified senator: I seek leave to speak to the report.

Leave not granted.

Janet Rice (Victoria, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Pursuant to contingent notice of motion, I move:

That so much of the standing orders be suspended as would prevent Senator Rice moving a motion associated with the report of the sports grants inquiry.

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

There is no contingent notice, I understand, for the purposes you're outlining, Senator Rice, so you can move a motion to suspend standing orders to allow for consideration of that matter. If you wish to do that, you can. That requires an absolute majority.

Janet Rice (Victoria, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I move:

That so much of the standing orders be suspended as would prevent Senator Rice moving a motion associated with the report of the sports grants inquiry.

Simon Birmingham (SA, Liberal Party, Minister for Finance) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Ordinarily at the tabling of committee reports there is an opportunity to take note of those committee reports. I understand that the arrangements in place today, Mr President, are such that, as you have seen with the other committee reports, committee reports have simply been tabled and the chamber has moved on. If it will facilitate the smooth running of the Senate, the government will grant leave for some short statements to be made, noting that, when the Senate next sits, senators will be free to dwell more fulsomely upon the report if they wish to.

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

I am just going to provide the chamber with what I know, because this is obviously not something that has been discussed in the normal course. I understand there is a motion that relates to a recommendation that includes an order for the production of documents, and people are seeking an opportunity to debate the report.

Honourable senators interjecting—

You can only speak on behalf of yourselves. I've asked others whether they wish to speak to it, and they have. I'll take it back a couple of steps now that people are more aware of what is being sought. The question is: is leave granted for Senator Chisholm to move a motion with respect to the recommendations in the report?

An honourable senator interjecting—

Can you inform the chamber of the motion, Senator Chisholm?

Anthony Chisholm (Queensland, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

It is a motion that recommendation 9 of the report, which proposes an order for the production of documents, be adopted.

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

Has that motion been circulated?

Anthony Chisholm (Queensland, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

It's part of the report which just got tabled.

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

Not all senators are aware of a report that has only just been tabled though, Senator Chisholm.

Honourable senators interjecting—

This needs the unanimous consent of the chamber to go forward, unless there is a suspension of standing orders. I can imagine some people are considering how long the debate would go before any of the other 75 senators might wish to grant leave. For the information of the chamber, because it's normally discussed in other meetings, is this a motion that is sought to be debated or sought to be voted on?

An honourable senator interjecting—

I'm going to put it then. Is Senator Chisholm granted leave to move that motion?

Leave granted.

Anthony Chisholm (Queensland, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I move:

That recommendation No. 9 of the report proposing for an order for the production of documents be adopted.

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

The question is as outlined in recommendation 9 of the committee report, as moved by Senator Chisholm.

Janet Rice (Victoria, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek leave to give a notice of motion for the next day of sitting pertaining to an order for the production of documents, as was outlined in recommendation 9 of the committee report that has just been tabled.

Leave not granted.

Anthony Chisholm (Queensland, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek leave to speak to the report.

Leave not granted.

Malarndirri McCarthy (NT, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, I just want to clarify that senators can speak on this at the next—

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

Yes, this will be on the Notice Paper when parliament resumes. Committee reports go onto the Notice Paper, as per normal. They just can't be dealt with today, but when the Senate resumes they will be on the Notice Paper to speak on, as is normal. There is no need to seek leave to continue your remarks.