Senator GALLAGHER (Australian Capital Territory—Manager of Opposition Business in the Senate) (12:01): I move the following amendment to the motion moved by Senator Fifield: (1) Omit paragraph (b), substitute: "(b) government business order of the day No. 7 relating to the Income Tax Rates (Working Holiday Maker Reform) Bill 2016 and related bills be called on after the consideration of the bills listed in paragraph (a) and considered till not later than 2 pm today. The reason we have taken this step to move this amendment is that the government has been talking for some time now about the need to end the uncertainty for farmers and our tourism sector. And they are certainly right about the uncertainty. It has been going on for almost 18 months. It has been causing great harm and anguish to this country's farmers, the growers and tourism operators— Government senators interjecting— The DEPUTY PRESIDENT: Order on my right, please! Order! Senator Gallagher has the right to be heard in silence. Senator GALLAGHER: After almost 18 months, and through this amendment, we say to the government: let's end the uncertainty today. It has gone on for too long. I know there is a lot of support on the government benches for an approach like this. Let's not forget that two weeks ago this legislation was so urgent that the government gagged debate on it in the House of Representatives. It is quite a significant move to gag debate, but the government obviously believed that this bill was so pressing and so crucial to deal with that we could not even have the full debate in the other place. It is worth noting what some government members in the other place said about this bill when they were dealing with the legislation. Mr Broad, the member for Mallee, asked the shadow minister for agriculture: … if you could, please ask your senators not to hold this up any longer than it needs to be because it is important that not only is it done and dusted by Christmas but that it is well communicated so that those backpackers continue to come. We agree with those comments, which is why we are urging that these bills be brought on in the Senate today. Mr Christensen, the member for Dawson, said: … there is no justification for any further delay. Ms Marino, the member for Forrest, demanded that we: … step up to the plate and get this through the parliament and into practice. Our regional economies are relying on it. Mr Wilson, the member for O'Connor, said: Deferring this legislation simply creates more uncertainty for both potential working holiday makers and our regional economies. Mr Drum, the member for Murray, said: What we need to do is put the message out there very clearly to the Senate that this is time critical— I repeat: the member for Murray said that 'the Senate needs to get the message that this is time critical'— and there are going to be an awful lot of mum-and-dad— Government senators interjecting— The DEPUTY PRESIDENT: May I remind senators once again that senators have the right to be heard in silence. Further, I remind senators it is particularly disorderly to be calling out when they are not in their correct seats. Senator GALLAGHER: Thank you, Madam Deputy President. Mr Drum said: … there are going to be an awful lot of mum-and-dad Australian businesses that are going to be impacted if these games continue any longer than another week. Well, we are now at the end of that next week, and we say that these games need to end today. We agree with all of the members of the government in the other place that we need to provide certainty for our farmers and our tourism sector. The government has spent almost 18 months causing uncertainty. We can end this now. Let's debate this legislation today and support my amendment. Let's get it done so our farmers, our growers and our tourism operators can move on.