Mr REITH (Minister for Workplace Relations and Small Business)(3.35 p.m.) —I will respond briefly, Mr Speaker. Obviously, the Wik debate is continuing in the Senate and time has been put aside for that next week. The government would like the matter completed next week and, as I understand it, the Manager of Government Business in the Senate has been attempting to obtain sufficient time from the opposition parties, including the Labor Party in the Senate, so that they can have sufficient government business time to bring the matter to a conclusion.

It is quite incredible for the Manager of Opposition Business (Mr Crean) to be pressing us when the Labor Party has 400-plus amendments in the Senate and clearly, as a political ploy, would like to obstruct and delay the timely passage of that legislation. You would love to obstruct and delay it, wouldn't you? It is part of your tactics. Our view is that this matter ought to be dealt with and dealt with expeditiously. You should do all in your power, in discussions with your colleagues in the Senate, to talk some sense into them.

As to the position as at this point in time, on the basis of the discussions I have had with my colleagues in the Senate, they would hope for additional time to be agreed. My expectation is that all members of this House should make plans to be here on Friday of next week and I would hope that the matters would then be concluded on the Friday. I have no information other than to say that the schedule of the Senate provides them the opportunity to complete matters. If it is late on the Thursday night, time would be required for the transmission of the documents to the lower house and we would then debate it on Friday morning.

Mr Crean —And if they do not conclude it until Friday?

Mr REITH —Quite frankly, if they do not, you will have complaints to lodge with your own side in the Senate.

Mr SPEAKER —We have had sufficient debate on this issue.