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

I seek leave to move a motion concerning a variation to the hours of meeting and the routine of business.

Leave not granted.

Pursuant to contingent notice, I move:

That so much of the standing orders be suspended as would prevent me from moving a motion to provide for the consideration of a matter, namely a motion to allow a motion concerning a variation to the hours of meeting and routine of business to be moved and determined immediately.

I move:

That the question be now put.

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

The question is that the question be now put on the motion to suspend standing orders.

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

The question now is that the motion to suspend standing orders be agreed to.

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

I move:

That a motion concerning a variation to the hours of meeting and return of business may be moved immediately and determined without amendment or debate.

And I move:

That the question be now put.

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

The question is that the question be put on the procedural motion moved by the minister. Senator McGrath, a point of order?

James McGrath (Queensland, Liberal National Party, Shadow Assistant Minister to the Leader of the Opposition) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Could the question be put separately in relation to paragraph (b)?

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

I haven't gotten to that bit yet, Senator McGrath. I'll bear that in mind when the appropriate moment comes. I am now putting the question that the question be put on the substantive question. Then we'll have another question, which is the procedural motion itself, and then we'll come to the substantive hours motion. That's when you may wish to speak to me. The question now is that the question be put on the procedural motion moved by Minister Wong.

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

The question now is that the procedural motion moved by the minister be agreed to.

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

I move:

That today:

(a) the hours of meeting be 10 am till adjournment;

(b) the questions on all remaining stages of the following bills be put as follows:

(i) Future Made in Australia (Production Tax Credits and Other Measures) Bill 2024 at 8 pm, and

(ii) Defence Service Homes Amendment (Insurance) Bill 2025 at 9 pm;

(c) paragraph (b) operate as limitations of debate under standing order 142;

(d) divisions may take place after 6.30 pm until consideration of the bills has concluded; and

(e) the question for the adjournment be proposed after consideration of the bills has concluded.

James McGrath (Queensland, Liberal National Party, Shadow Assistant Minister to the Leader of the Opposition) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

On behalf of the opposition, I ask that we split (b)(i) and (b)(ii).

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

You wish to vote differently on the bills which would go into the substantive motion?

James McGrath (Queensland, Liberal National Party, Shadow Assistant Minister to the Leader of the Opposition) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Yes.

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

What I think I'm going to do, subject to remonstrations from the table staff, is put the question as to whether the chamber agrees to (b)(i). Then, depending on the answer to that, I will put the remainder of the motion. The question is that part (b)(i) be included in the motion.

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

The final question is that the balance of the motion—parts (a), (b)(ii), (c), (d) and (e)—be agreed to. The chamber has already agreed that part (b)(i) will be considered.

Question agreed to.

Michaelia Cash (WA, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek leave to make a short five-minute statement.

Leave not granted.

Pursuant to contingent notice of motion standing in my name, I move:

That so much of standing orders be suspended as would prevent me from making a statement of no more than five minutes.

Colleagues, there it is—there's the new parliament. Watch it very, very carefully. This was a test for the government of whether they would work with us to put through a bill, the Defence Service Homes Amendment (Insurance) Bill, that is non-controversial and that we said this morning could happily go through the chamber. Instead, we had them playing around and talking for longer than it would have taken to put that particular bill through. Instead, what have they done? Exactly what we thought they would do. They've teamed up with the Australian Greens to do a dirty deal that avoids scrutiny on a bill that directly affects the mining industry in Australia and is going to have a direct impact on their productivity and their prosperity.

What I love, though, is this. We're heading towards, obviously, a federal election. Let's cast our minds back to what happened prior to the last election. Colleagues, do you remember the lectures on transparency? Do you remember the lectures on accountability? Do you remember the lectures on how 'if we are elected to govern'—amongst other things which they clearly haven't delivered—'there will be a new way of doing things in this chamber'? I have to say you got that part of what you said correct. Shame on you!

Colleagues, let's remind everybody listening in to this debate that such is this government's commitment to transparency and accountability that in just 2½ years, from September 2022 to February 2025—guess how many bills the government has guillotined? One hundred and ninety-eight. And guess what? An incredibly important bill that Senator Dean Smith wants to take through committee and ask serious questions on is now going to be guillotined through this place. I have to say I can't wait to find out what they got for the dirty deal. Seriously! How many cabinet positions? When I raised that today in my speech in the chamber, all I could hear from the Australian Greens was, 'Hear, hear!' to cabinet positions and, 'We'd like a few.' Let's start divvying it up. Which cabinet positions do the Australian Greens want in a minority government? They've been pretty upfront about it. I'll give the Greens credit. At least you are being upfront about the fact that, if you are in minority government with the Albanese Labor government, you will at least ask for cabinet positions. That is a good thing. I give you credit. You're being upfront about it.

Peter Whish-Wilson (Tasmania, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Deputy President, I'd ask that Senator Cash direct her comments through you as the chair. I appreciate having the pen pointed at me—but through you, Deputy President.

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

Thank you for bringing order to the chamber. Senator Cash, please take note.

Michaelia Cash (WA, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

In a few weeks time, post the election, Senator McKim will be sitting here, and he will probably get precedence over me—good grief! Senator McKim, will you actually be sitting up here as the Leader of the Government in the Senate?

Colleagues, what is more concerning is that this is a bill that deals directly with the backbone of the economy—the mining and resources industry. As we know, Australians rely on the mining and resources industry to ensure the continued prosperity that this country has had. Let's just have a look at what the Greens have said in relation to the mining industry:

Last time there was a minority government, the Greens cut climate pollution and delivered world leading climate laws and billions in funding for clean energy.

…   …   …

This election, the Greens are on track to win more seats across the country. In the balance of power, we're fighting to:

Stop new coal and gas …

How's that going to work for energy prices in this country? It continues:

End the billions in handouts to coal, oil and gas corporations …

Again, how is you closing down coal, oil and gas in this country actually going to help? Do you actually care about how much the average Australian pays for energy?

But at least you're being honest about your disdain. Shame on those opposite, the government. On the first day of what could be the last sitting week, at least Australians now have the opportunity to properly understand that this could be their future. If the Australian people think they are doing it tough now, God help Australians if the Greens get what they want and Mr Albanese is governing with them.

Katy Gallagher (ACT, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Public Service) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

There being no further speakers, I'm happy to make a few remarks here. As enjoyable and extraordinary as that presentation was—bordering on the delusional—I think it would be in the interests of the Senate if we moved on to the daily program. Considering people are concerned about getting all the work done today, I think it would be beneficial if we moved on.

We know the opposition don't want to deal with production tax credits. We know they're anti Western Australia. We know that this is an important reform to provide investment certainty and support for businesses who are going to be at the forefront of the new industries that need to be created as we move towards a renewable energy future. We're very pleased that the Senate has agreed to deal with these two important bills today. I move:

That the question be now put.

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

The question is that the question be put.

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

I will now put the substantive question that standing orders be suspended.