Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek leave to amend government business notice No. 1, standing in the name of Senator Gallagher, before seeking to have the motion taken as a formal motion.

Leave granted.

I move the motion as amended:

That—

(1) on Wednesday, 18 October 2023:

(a) the hours of meeting be 9 am till adjournment and the routine of business from 6 pm the conclusion of the consideration of proposals under standing order 75 be consideration of the following bills only:

Family Law Amendment Bill 2023

Family Law Amendment (Information Sharing) Bill 2023

Higher Education Support Amendment (Response to the Australian Universities Accord Interim Report) Bill 2023,

National Occupational Respiratory Disease Registry Bill 2023, and

National Occupational Respiratory Disease Registry (Consequential Amendments) Bill 2023

(b) the Senate adjourn without debate following the conclusion of the bills or at 8.30 pm, whichever is the earlier; and

(2) on Thursday, 19 October 2023:

(a) the hours of meeting be 9 am till adjournment and the routine of business from 12.15 pm be consideration of the following bills only:

Higher Education Support Amendment (Response to the Australian Universities Accord Interim Report) Bill 2023

Family Law Amendment Bill 2023

Family Law Amendment (Information Sharing) Bill 2023,

National Occupational Respiratory Disease Registry Bill 2023, and

National Occupational Respiratory Disease Registry (Consequential Amendments) Bill 2023

(b) if consideration of the bills has not concluded by 1.30 pm, the question on all remaining stages of the bills be put, and

(c) paragraph (2)(b) operate as a limitation of debate under standing order 142.

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

I seek leave to make a short statement, for one minute.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Leave is granted for one minute.

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

I thank the Senate. I acknowledge the amendments circulated by Senator Wong. Of course, this still provides for yet another guillotine of legislation by the Albanese Labor government, but it provides for slightly longer consideration the legislation than had been proposed in the government's initial guillotine proposal. I acknowledge and thank the government for at least providing a little bit more time. The Senate shouldn't have to think governments for providing a little bit more time. The Senate should be treated with the respect of allowing proper consideration of legislation. This little bit more time is a function of the fact that my colleague Senator Cash, working with crossbenchers, has been pushing to try to ensure there is extra time for consideration of these bills. We're going to get that extra time to some degree. That is a welcome addition, albeit this government, rather than seeking to ram through its legislation by guillotine, which it used to criticise from opposition, ought to properly schedule its business.

Question agreed to.