Senator ALSTON (Communications, Information Technology and the Arts) (10:52 PM) —I move:

That the bills now be read a third time.

Senator Mark Bishop —Mr Acting Deputy President, I request that each of the bills be put separately.

The ACTING DEPUTY PRESIDENT (Senator McKiernan) —The answer is that they will be put that way, Senator Bishop—except that at 11 p.m. the guillotine will start to operate again.

Senator Mark Bishop —I indicate to the chair that the only one we are interested in dividing on is the Telstra (Transition to Full Private Ownership) Bill 1998 , so I request that that one be put separately.

The ACTING DEPUTY PRESIDENT —We will put that one first. The question is that the motion be agreed to. The motion is the one moved by the minister, that the bills be now read a third time.

Opposition senators interjecting—

The ACTING DEPUTY PRESIDENT —In respect of the Telstra sale bill.

Senator Brown —We are dealing with either one or five bills here. Could the name of the bill we are dealing with be read out, please.

The ACTING DEPUTY PRESIDENT —We are dealing with the bill for the full sale of Telstra, which is the Telstra (Transition to Full Private Ownership) Bill 1998 , first. The question is that that bill be now read a third time.

Question put.