Senator FAULKNER (Leader of the Opposition in the Senate) —If I may speak briefly to that motion, I indicate that it had been my intention to press this matter and seek formality in accordance with the procedures that operate in this place, which I gather has taken place. The opposition did receive some conflicting advice in relation to the government position on formality for general business notice of motion No. 142.

But formal discussions across the table here have indicated that, if this motion is called on at this time by the opposition, then Senator Short as the responsible government minister is not in a position to do anything else than not grant formality. He advises me informally that he may or may not be in that position tomorrow.

I want to make clear in postponing this matter—given that is the advice that Senator Short has given me—that, whatever occurs in relation to this motion, it is not my intention to delay the Senate a long time in debating it. I want to give Senator Short the opportunity to be able to advise the Senate on the formality of this motion tomorrow morning.

I do want to make clear, however, that, if formality is not granted, it certainly is the opposition's intention to press the matter, which I will do consequentially tomorrow morning. I make that point because the Senate is now in its last week of sittings and the return to order does specify a time of five o'clock tomorrow. I would not want the government to use the argument that time is very short. No doubt there will be much trawling through—

Senator Kemp —It is.

Senator FAULKNER —It is short, that's right. I am sure you are very relived to know that, given the performance of the government in this chamber over recent weeks.

I am sure that my postponing of this notice of motion will mean that there will be a lot of trawling through documents in ministers' offices and departments. It is not my intention to waste the Senate's time on this matter. If a postponement until the next day of sitting means that we cannot have a debate on it for a long period, then that makes some good sense. It is in that spirit that I move for the postponement of this motion.

Question resolved in the affirmative.