Helen Polley (Tasmania, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The President has received letters nominating senators to be members of committees.

Tim Ayres (NSW, Australian Labor Party, Assistant Minister for Trade) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

by leave—I move:

That senators be appointed to committees as follows:

I ntelligence and Security—Joint Statutory Committee—

Appointed—Senators Birmingham, Ciccone, Paterson, Marielle Smith and Walsh, pursuant to the Intelligence Services Act 2001

Northern Australia—Joint Select C ommittee—

Appointed—Senators Dodson and Green

Larissa Waters (Queensland, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

We have a related motion that we will be seeking to move and make some contributions to, but we'd obviously rather not get in the way of first speeches.

Helen Polley (Tasmania, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I understand you have an amendment. Would you like to move that now?

Larissa Waters (Queensland, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Yes, we are willing to do that, unless the government would like to delay this until after first speeches. It's up to you, as a gracious thing to do.

The ACTING DEPUTY PRESID ENT: I'm just waiting for some clarity. Do we delay it until after the first speeches? I'm in the hands of the government. Senator Waters, you should move your motion.

As per the motion that's been circulated in the chamber relating to membership of the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security, I move, as an amendment:

That the motion to appoint senators to committees be amended as follows:

At the end of the motion add:

, except in relation to the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security, and that in relation to that committee:

(a) the nominations advised by the Leader of the Government in the Senate not be approved, as the Leader of the Government has not consulted the leaders of each recognised, non-government, political party in the Senate about the membership of the committee (as required by subsection 14(4) of Schedule 1 of the Intelligence Services Act 2001); and

(b) nominations for membership of the committee not be further considered until the Senate is notified by the Leader of the Government that:

i. this consultation has occurred, and

ii. as required by subsection 14(5) of Schedule 1 of the Act, due regard has been had to the desirability of ensuring that the composition of the committee reflects the representation of recognised political parties in the Parliament.

I now seek to speak to that motion, assuming that I have the right to continue on and do that.

Helen Polley (Tasmania, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

We've got less than two minutes.

Larissa Waters (Queensland, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Yes. This is why I suggested that we delay it until after the first speeches.

Helen Polley (Tasmania, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I'm seeking some guidance from the chamber. You did offer that courtesy, Senator Waters.

Tim Ayres (NSW, Australian Labor Party, Assistant Minister for Trade) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Acting Deputy President, perhaps the best way to proceed would be if I could get an indication from Senator Waters that she would speak for five minutes prior to the first speeches. I'm trying to arrange the speaking times and arrange that you be afforded a chance to speak prior to the upcoming first speeches. Then we'll continue with speeches in relation to this after the first speeches.

Larissa Waters (Queensland, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I might note, for the chamber's benefit, that I imagine a number of other folk will also want to speak to my motion, so it may well be neater to do it after the first speeches. I am once again offering that for everybody's—

Helen Polley (Tasmania, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I will be guided by the chamber, but I think that, in light of the fact that we have the two senators ready, we should proceed to the first speeches.

Debate adjourned.