Senator McEWEN: by leave—I move: That leave of absence be granted to Senators Carr, Farrell and Wong today, on account of ministerial duties. The DEPUTY PRESIDENT: The question is that that motion be agreed to. Senator Bob Brown: Mr Deputy President, I ask if the senator who has moved this motion would go beyond just saying 'ministerial duties'. This is a sitting of the Senate. We have important matters before us. It is about to be followed by a motion requesting leave of absence for an equal number of members of the opposition. I believe the Senate is owed an explanation that is explicit about the need to put the Senate sitting second to the activities of the seven senators we are about to be asked to give leave to. The DEPUTY PRESIDENT: Senator Brown, there is a motion before the chair. The Senate will decide. The question is that that motion moved by Senator McEwen be agreed to. Senator Ian Macdonald: On a point of order, Mr Deputy President: is there no opportunity to discuss this motion? The DEPUTY PRESIDENT: No. The motion has been taken as formal. Permission was given by the Senate for the motion to be taken as formal. I have now put the motion. So you are debating the point but there is no further discussion. Question agreed to.