Senator WONG (South Australia—Leader of the Opposition in the Senate) (16:26): I rise to speak against the suspension of standing orders for a very simple reason: we do not know what the deal is. We do not know what the policy is. We do not know what changes the government is proposing. All we know is what Senator Xenophon said in a contribution to the committee debate about what concessions he says he has got in order to sell out South Australian schools. That is all we know. But what the government is seeking—I say to the crossbench, you ought not participate in this—is for the Senate to proceed on a debate on a bill until conclusion, before they have even told us what the bill contains and what the policy is. So it is a very simple proposition: the Senate ought not be, at short notice— The ACTING DEPUTY PRESIDENT ( Senator Marshall ): Senator Macdonald, on a point of order. Senator Ian Macdonald: So the senators are not intimidated, could you ask all senators to address the issue through you, as Chairman, rather than directly to individual senators. The ACTING DEPUTY PRESIDENT: I do not think there is a point of order there. I will just remind senators: comments should be addressed to the chair. Senator WONG: The comment to the chair is: Senator Macdonald really does have an unhealthy obsession with me, but I digress. Senator Ian Macdonald: Don't kid yourself. Senator WONG: You are not my type either, mate, don't worry about it. Coming back to the question at hand, the reality is there is a very large policy issue on the table here, regardless of the view that Senator Hinch, Senator Gichuhi, the Greens, Senator Hanson and her team, or Senator Xenophon and his team take. And that policy issue is: what is the appropriate framework to fund Australian schools in the coming years? We have the view that the government's legislation is not good enough. We have the view that a fair deal for Australian students and a fair deal for Australian schools is in the national interest. We have a view that funding them $22 million less than the coalition previously promised—there was not going to be a dollar less than what the Labor government put in place—is the wrong thing to do. We have a view that saying that the majority of public schools will not reach the appropriate standard is not good enough. But those are matters of substantive argument. In relation to the bill before the chamber, though, the Senate should not be required to debate and vote on a bill in relation to which senators do not know the detail. The reason they do not know the detail is that Senator Birmingham has, in a desperate effort to get the numbers through this place in order to ensure that Prime Minister Turnbull's leadership is safe, is running around seeking to do a deal with Senator Xenophon and other members of the crossbench. You are entitled to do that, but this Senate, as a legislative chamber, as a chamber of this parliament, is entitled— Senator Ian Macdonald interjecting— Senator WONG: Mr Acting Deputy President, I wonder if Senator Macdonald could possibly cease interjecting for at least 30 seconds? The ACTING DEPUTY PRESIDENT: I ask senators not to interject. Senator Paterson: We'll meet you halfway—15 seconds. Senator WONG: Fifteen seconds, okay. We will try that. How about that? This Senate ought not be asked to debate and vote on legislation, to sit through the night tomorrow night, because until this finishes— Senator Ian Macdonald interjecting— The ACTING DEPUTY PRESIDENT: I would ask senators not to interject. Senator Ian Macdonald: I am just pointing out— The ACTING DEPUTY PRESIDENT: But in any case I would ask you not to interject, Senator Macdonald. Senator WONG: It would be good, if he could possibly— Senator Ian Macdonald interjecting— Senator Cameron: Point of order: standing order No. 193(3) is in relation to personal reflections. Senator Macdonald continually interjects on Senator Wong as she is making her contribution. It is highly disorderly. Robust exchanges are okay in this place, but there is a contempt from Senator Macdonald for female senators on this side of the chamber. He is constantly engaged in it. He is constantly disrespectful to female senators on this side of the chamber. The President asked today for some respect across the chamber, and it is about time this senator, who is constantly disrespectful, was pulled into order. The ACTING DEPUTY PRESIDENT: It is a point of order. Senator Macdonald, on the point of order? Senator Ian Macdonald: No, Mr Deputy President. If Senator Wong objects to my saying she is precious, I withdraw it. The ACTING DEPUTY PRESIDENT: If you are not speaking on the point of order, please resume your seat. I am aware of that standing order. I am also aware of standing order No. 203, which talks about senators who wilfully disregard the instructions from the chair. I draw senators' attention to standing order No. 203. Senator WONG: I come back to the substance at hand. As I said, these are weighty issues which are before the chamber, because they go to the funding arrangements for Australian schools across the country, every state and every territory, for many years to come. Yes, they can be amended by a later government, and I hope they will be should they get through, but in the absence of that the chamber has to address very seriously and consider very carefully whether these arrangements are appropriate. What the Nick Xenophon Team, the One Nation team and others in this chamber are now going to vote for if they vote for this is a requirement that this debate be continued and finalised before senators know what the deal is. Senator Xenophon, you may think that is an appropriate way to operate in this chamber. I do not think it is. I think it is reasonable on something as important— Senator Xenophon: Point of order: Senator Wong is making an imputation as to what I am actually doing. I think that imputation is incorrect. There are a number of imputations. She is making an imputation about the conduct of the business of the Senate, which is not an accurate reflection of my views. The ACTING DEPUTY PRESIDENT: Senator Wong, on the point of order. Senator WONG: I am pleased if you do not vote for a motion that requires us to sit here to— The ACTING DEPUTY PRESIDENT: Is this on the point of order? I have not yet ruled on the point of order. I would ask all senators to direct their remarks to the chair. That may assist the chamber in proceeding with this motion that is in front of us. Senator WONG: I am somewhat mystified by the point of order from Senator Xenophon. If he is not going to vote to make us sit here all night on a deal that he has done that we have not seen then let him say so, but if he is then I submit to the Senate that my contribution is entirely accurate. You are making us sit here late tonight and tomorrow night on a deal that we have not seen that affects every school and every student in every state and every territory for years to come. I am not sure which part of that Senator Xenophon disagrees with, but what I would say to you is that is an entirely accurate explanation of the position that he and his team appear to be adopting, and I urge senators not to suspend standing orders to enable it to happen. (Time expired)