Senator WONG (South Australia—Leader of the Opposition in the Senate) (16:05): by leave—That was a very funny 20 minutes. We've seen what's happened in here. There is no-one who has been watching this debate who does not know that this government is playing games in the Senate in order to protect their majority—or their minority—on the floor of the House of Representatives. They have lost control of the House. The PRESIDENT: I've got a point of order, Senator Wong. I'll go to Senator Cormann first, and then Senator Bernardi. Senator Cormann: Thank you very much, Mr President. We are operating under a gag motion— The PRESIDENT: Senator Cormann, you'll have the opportunity to make a statement. Senator Cormann: This is a point of order. The point of order is that it is important that we move swiftly through the remaining divisions. I don't think the Leader of the Opposition should be holding up the Senate. The PRESIDENT: Senator Bernardi rose on a point of order. On a point of order, Senator Bernardi. Senator Bernardi: My point of order is that the government hasn't been playing games; it's moved amendments. I have sought, in my role as a senator— The PRESIDENT: That's a point of debate, Senator Bernardi; it's not a point of order. Senator Bernardi: Senator Wong seems upset that I've been voting with the Labor Party on occasion. The PRESIDENT: It's not a point of order with respect to what Senator Wong is saying. Senator Wong. Senator WONG: Thank you, Mr President. Of course, a consequence of the government running away from having this bill debated in the House of Representatives is that an important national security bill will not become law. I have circulated an amendment to ensure we vote on the Telecommunications and Other Legislation Amendment (Assistance and Access) Bill 2018 by six o'clock. We should have been in that debate already. Mr Pyne has now made clear he will send the House of Representatives home before they have a chance to speak on the bill— The PRESIDENT: Order, Senator Wong! Senator WONG: This is an abrogation— The PRESIDENT: Order, Senator Wong! When I call people to order, I respect the right of senators to call a point of order. Senator Wong has been given leave to make a statement. Senator Birmingham on a point of order. Senator Birmingham: Mr President, Senator Wong was given leave to make a short statement. Senator Wong is now seeking to debate the point. Senator Wong is seeking to debate the point and mislead the Senate at the same time. The PRESIDENT: Senator Birmingham, please resume your seat now— Senator Birmingham: The order of debate today— The PRESIDENT: Please resume your seat now, Senator Birmingham. Order! I don't want to have to keep standing up. It's the last day. Senator Birmingham interjecting— The PRESIDENT: Senator Birmingham, take your seat! On a point of order, Senator Di Natale. Senator Di Natale: On another matter. The PRESIDENT: Senator Wong was given leave. It was not leave to make a short statement; it was leave a make a statement. The Senate granted that leave. Senator Wong. Senator WONG: Thank you, Mr President. I appreciate the courtesy. We now are at risk of not passing important national security legislation which I and other members of the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security have worked very hard on. We gave the government very clear notice in that report—a unanimous report—that there would be amendments to that legislation and they needed to reflect the PJCIS's recommendations. Notice was clearly given by the shadow Attorney-General in the House of Representatives that some of the amendments did not reflect the bipartisan committee recommendations, and those would be moved in the Senate. We have a letter from Mr Christian Porter, reflecting the fact that government amendments would be moved in the Senate. In those circumstances, this delay, which is about the government's political priorities on the floor of the House of Representatives, will prevent important national security legislation from becoming law, and I urge the government to reconsider its position. I urge the government to stop this filibustering; to ensure we can bring on the Telecommunications and Other Legislation Amendment (Assistance and Access) Bill, a national security bill that has bipartisan support; to enable the amendments that reflect the majority report of the parliamentary Joint Committee to be passed; and to ensure that the House remains so it becomes law so that our security agencies have the powers they need. Their failure to keep the House because they are so worried about this bill is an indictment on a government—on any government—that says it says it cares about national security! Australians' safety is worth more than the political points you are seeking to avoid in the House of Representatives.