Gallagher, Sen Katy

Senator GALLAGHER (Australian Capital Territory—Minister for the Public Service, Minister for Finance, Minister for Women, Manager of Government Business in the Senate and Vice-President of the Executive Council) (12:09): Because I don't want to delay the Senate again, I will quickly respond to Senator McKenzie's point. Our advice on putting a clause like that in the bill, and the High Court has considered this in another judgement, is that it would be unconstitutional and it would put at risk the entire administration of the bill. That is why we haven't reached agreement. I think people can read High Court judgements about that if they need further persuasion. We are not going to support the suspension. In typical Senate form, we have been here for two hours and 10 minutes and we have not got to the first item of business on the legislation program today. In closing, I would urge those to keep their remarks, when they concern this, to the second reading debate, which we would hopefully have finished and completed if we had been allowed to get there this morning and not have this time wasting. I move the question be put. The DEPUTY PRESIDENT: The question is that the question be put. Question agreed to. The DEPUTY PRESIDENT: The question in that Senator Waters' motion to suspend standing orders be agreed to.