Gallagher, Sen Katy

Senator GALLAGHER (Australian Capital Territory—Manager of Opposition Business in the Senate) (12:16): I seek leave to make short statement. The PRESIDENT: Leave is granted for one minute. Senator GALLAGHER: This is a petty and silly motion being put forward by the Greens, and it's not worthy of the Senate's time. The point that I have been making this week is that this part of the program is not here for senators to raise issues on which all senators should be allowed to participate in debate, particularly where there are varying views. The Greens insist on bringing motions here to have them dealt with in a way that doesn't allow for substantive debate, and it's not fair on senators or on the conduct of business in this place. That is the point I'm making. If the Greens want to retaliate by putting silly motions that waste the Senate's time, that's their own point. If you want to debate the EPBC Act, by all means bring it here and let's have a substantive debate on it. But don't waste the Senate's time retaliating to a point that I made earlier this week about giving the Senate and senators the respect of allowing open debate on issues that warrant it. This motion should be opposed. The PRESIDENT: The question is that motion No. 124 be agreed to.