Senator ABETZ (Tasmania—Leader of the Government in the Senate, Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for the Public Service and Minister for Employment) (15:42): I move: That— (a) consideration of government business order of the day no. 3 (Migration and Maritime Powers Legislation Amendment (Resolving the Asylum Legacy Caseload) Bill 2014) be called on immediately and have precedence over all other business till determined; (b) divisions may take place after 4.30 pm; and (c) the Senate shall adjourn after it has finally considered the bill listed in paragraph (a), or a motion for the adjournment is moved by a minister, whichever is the earlier. And I move: That the question be now put. The PRESIDENT: I have two senators on their feet. I am going to give the call to Senator Conroy only for the purposes of a point of order or clarification. Senator Conroy: Mr President, you indicated during the division that I would be able to move an amendment. The PRESIDENT: Yes. Senator Conroy: I deliberately sought clarification from you and now I am going to seek to move my amendment given Senator Abetz has sat down. The PRESIDENT: Senator Conroy, resume your seat and I will explain what has happened. Firstly, I indicated to you during the division in a point of clarification that if there was a question before the chair you could move an amendment. Senator Abetz has not only moved his motion but also moved a procedural motion, which a minister has the right to do. I cannot anticipate from this position— Senator Conroy interjecting— The PRESIDENT: But that is the procedural motion. Those are the standing orders of the Senate. So, in relation to the point of clarification, the minister has the right to do that and now I am obliged under the standing orders to put the question. Senator Wong: Mr President— The PRESIDENT: Senator Wong, I will allow a point of clarification. Senator Wong: Thank you. A government senator: This looks like a speech. The PRESIDENT: Order! I will determine what happens. Senator Wong: Senator Conroy gave a clear indication to the chamber that he wanted to move an amendment. What the crossbench and the government are doing is denying Senator Conroy the right to move an amendment. The PRESIDENT: No, I am sorry; I will not take any— Senator Wong: I seek leave— The PRESIDENT: You cannot seek leave at the moment. Senator Wong: I can seek leave, Mr President, with respect. The PRESIDENT: You cannot. Senator Wong: I seek leave— The PRESIDENT: No; there is a question before the chair, and I have been indulgent in allowing you and Senator Conroy— Senator Wong: I am seeking leave to move an amendment. The PRESIDENT: Senator Conroy, you have no leave; you cannot seek leave. I am putting the question. Senator Wong: I am Senator Wong, not Senator Conroy. Senator Conroy: I'm Senator Conroy. The PRESIDENT: Senator Wong, I am going to put the question. Senator Conroy interjecting— The PRESIDENT: Sit down, Senator Conroy. Senator Wong interjecting— The PRESIDENT: No, you cannot seek leave. Senator Wong: You can always seek leave. The PRESIDENT: There is a question before the chair; you can seek leave immediately after the question has been put. I am obliged to put a procedural question. I am not entertaining any further points of order or clarification. Opposition senators interjecting— The PRESIDENT: No, there cannot be a point of order! Opposition senators interjecting— The PRESIDENT: Yes, it was, Senator— Opposition senators interjecting— The PRESIDENT: Right, I am not taking any further comments, points of order or clarifications. The question is that the motion moved by Senator Abetz, that the question be now put, be agreed to. The PRESIDENT: The question now is that the motion moved by Senator Abetz, to vary the routine of business for today to consider a bill, be agreed to. Senator Wong: For clarification, is it possible for Senator Conroy to move his amendment to this motion? The PRESIDENT: No, because the question was that the question be now put. Senator Wong: So you are denying the— Honourable senators interjecting— The PRESIDENT: Order! Senators, you do not help. Senator Conroy interjecting— The PRESIDENT: No, I am dealing with Senator Wong at the moment, Senator Conroy. Senator Wong, I am not denying anything. I am complying with the standing orders of the Senate. That is exactly what I am doing. Senator Wong: Then I seek leave to move an amendment to the motion. The PRESIDENT: Senator Wong, you cannot do that in this process. It is a procedural matter we are dealing with. The procedural matter is that we have to deal with this motion straightaway without any other business before the Senate. Leave cannot be sought. Senator Wong: I am seeking leave to move an amendment to the motion and leave is denied? The PRESIDENT: No. Senator Wong, you cannot seek leave in the first place, so it cannot be denied. The question is that the motion moved by Senator Abetz, to vary the routine of business for today to consider a bill, be agreed to.