Senator LUDWIG (Manager of Government Business in the Senate) (9:45 AM) —by leave—Mr President, it appears the numbers in the chamber have not actually reflected the result of the vote. We have not ascertained from our side what the circumstances are.

Senator Bob Brown —We are unable to hear what is being said up here.

Senator LUDWIG —I have sought and obtained leave to make a short statement. It appears that the last vote did not reflect the numbers in the chamber. We are going to find out exactly what has happened. I am asking for that vote to be recommitted at a later hour. Because it is an amendment to a substantive motion, I would then ask that that substantive motion be held over to that time. I understand that we generally have broad agreement within the Senate that that is permissible. I do apologise that we have not been able, in the short space of time, to ascertain the exact nature of the problem. Given that the opposition, with the support of the Greens and with the support of Senator Xenophon, would normally negative the vote, I can reasonably surmise there is a problem with the counting.