Senator BARTLETT (4:19 PM) —I would like leave of the Senate to give a brief explanation as to why the Democrats do not agree with this motion, rather than dividing on it.

Leave granted.

Senator BARTLETT —I just wish to indicate on behalf of the Democrats that we opposed this motion because we believe it is inappropriate for this Senate to be expressing opinions to a future Senate which, as has been widely noted, may be of a vastly different composition from the one that currently sits here. If we are going to start doing that on issues such as this, we may as well start doing it on issues such as how to appoint the President or the Deputy President after the next election. For that reason, we feel it is inappropriate to support a motion which expresses an opinion so different from that which has been expressed by the Senate on every previous occasion this century.