Andrew McLachlan (SA, Deputy-President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

We now come to a deferred vote. I remind senators that after 4.30 pm on Thursday 12 September 2024 a division was called on the amendment moved by Senator Watt to general business notice of motion No. 613 concerning the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide. The question is that the amendment moved by Senator Watt be agreed to.

David Shoebridge (NSW, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek leave to make a very short contribution.

Andrew McLachlan (SA, Deputy-President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Leave is granted for one minute.

David Shoebridge (NSW, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The entire purpose of this motion, as I understood it, was to put a very clear timetable on the response to the royal commission. This is in circumstances where, as the royal commission itself noted, countless previous reports with hundreds and hundreds of recommendations have not had even close to a substantive response. With the amendment that has just been passed, the very purpose of the motion has been defeated. Veterans are asking themselves what commitment they have that this will be any different to any of the other recommendations or reports. The whole purpose of the motion has been defeated by this amendment moved by the government and supported by the opposition. For those reasons, the Greens will not be supporting this amended motion.

Andrew McLachlan (SA, Deputy-President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The question before the Senate is that the motion, as amended, be agreed to.