Senator JACINTA COLLINS (Victoria—Manager of Government Business in the Senate and Parliamentary Secretary for School Education and Workplace Relations) (13:46): I move: That the question now be put. The PRESIDENT: The question is that the question now be put. The PRESIDENT: Order! I have been asked to divide the question. The question now is that paragraphs 9 and 10 of the motion relating to the hours— Senator Ian Macdonald: Mr President, on a point of order: I have given notice of an amendment that I required to be put. I appreciate that I may not be able to speak to it, because of the gag, but I draw your attention to the fact that an amendment has been flagged and handed in. The PRESIDENT: I understand that I have no option now but to put the motion. The question that was considered by the chair was that the motion be now put. That was carried, and therefore I now have to put the question that is before the chair. The question has been asked to be divided. Senator Ian Macdonald: My point is that the question before the chair should be the motion of which I have given notice and handed a written copy in. I cannot believe that the standing orders would allow for an important motion like this, and an important amendment, not to be able to be voted on by the chamber. Surely the government would also want the amendment to be dealt with before the motion is put. The PRESIDENT: I have ruled on the matter. The matter— Senator Ian Macdonald: Mr President, would you accept a motion that so much of standing orders should be set aside as would permit me— The PRESIDENT: No, for the exact same reason. The question was that the question now be put. There was a request that the question be divided upon and that is being abided by. So I will now put the question, which is that paragraphs 9 and 10 of the motion relating to the hours and routine of business for this week be agreed to. The PRESIDENT: The question is that paragraphs 1 to 8 of the motion relating to the hours and routine of business for this week be agreed to.