Senator LUDWIG (Manager of Government Business in the Senate) (10:26 AM) —I  intend to move:

Senator Abetz —Should government business notice of motion No. 1 read ‘regulator bill’ or ‘regulatory bill’?

Senator LUDWIG —You can read.

Senator Abetz —Mr President, on a point of order: the minister is purportedly reading to the Senate a motion which has been circulated, and there is now a discrepancy between that which he read and that which is printed. I would seek clarification as to what the wording ought to be.

The PRESIDENT —I have no idea of what the correct title is. I will get the minister to clarify that.

Senator LUDWIG —No. 2 reads:

Senator Abetz —Mr President, on a point of order: I sought clarification in relation to government business notice of motion No. 1.

Government senators interjecting—

Senator Abetz —No, you said No. 2, and I raised a point of order in relation to No. 1. So, if we could have clarification of No. 1, that would be helpful.

The PRESIDENT —I am sure that the minister will clarify that.

Senator Cormann —Mr President, I rise on a point of order. The motion that the minister is reading out is at variance with the motion that I have got in front of me. I am totally confused as to what the government is actually proposing to do this morning. Can he please be asked to provide some clarification?

The PRESIDENT —It is correct within the standing orders for the motion to be read. If there is a difference between what has been circulated and what the minister is reading then I can only take it that what the minister is reading is the true and proper version. I think that is the correct way.

Senator Ian Macdonald —Mr President, I rise on a point of order. We just voted previously on two motions to immediately put a motion. The motion that was circulated to us as what would be put is not the one he was reading out, but the one that is on our desks. The previous two motions that have been voted upon related to the document that was on our tables when he moved that motion. So those two motions do not take account—

Government senators interjecting—

Senator Ian Macdonald —Mr President, let me finish. Let me develop my point of order. The two previous motions related to a document on our tables and so we voted accordingly. Perhaps if we had known it was different we might have voted a different way. And so, I think those previous two motions are invalid, and do not apply to the motion before the chair.

Senator Bob Brown —It is quite clear, and it has always been the fact, that a motion read is the motion that we are dealing with. A motion circulated may be at variance to that, but I would ask you, Mr President—

Honourable senators interjecting—

The PRESIDENT —Order! Senator Brown, this is not a time for debate. If you have finished your point of order—

Senator Bob Brown —Thank you. If the attendants might circulate a pencil each to the opposition so that they can get it right as the motion is read out—

The PRESIDENT —Senator Brown, that is not a point of order.

Opposition senators interjecting—

The PRESIDENT —Order! When everyone is ready we will proceed.

Senator Brandis —Mr President, on Senator Macdonald’s point of order: the motion for which the Senate just voted was a motion that the motion be put. Not that ‘a motion be put’ in relation to precedence but that ‘the motion be put’. The only motion before the Senate at the time that motion was put and determined was not the motion which Minister Ludwig is now reading. The motion that Minister Ludwig is now reading is not the motion that the Senate gave leave to put. He is out of order and you should sit him down.

The PRESIDENT —Senator Brandis, that is a completely wrong construction on that. The motion was simply a motion seeking precedence; it did not stipulate the motion. It was a matter of precedence and that the motion be put that would allow precedence to take place. That is what the motion was and that was quite within order.

Senator Brandis —Mr President, I rise on a point of order. Can the clerk read the motion that was just put and deliberated upon by the Senate, because I think you will find it was a motion that the motion be put.

Senator Carr —We know exactly what your game plan is! Waste as much time as possible.

Senator Abetz —You are showing all the temperament of North Korea!

Senator Carr —How is uncle Otto going?

Honourable senators interjecting—

The PRESIDENT —Order! Just wait a minute.

Senator Ian Macdonald —Mr President, I rise on a point of order about the conduct of Minister Carr, impugning improper motives. I ask that you ask him to apologise and withdraw.

The PRESIDENT —Senator Macdonald, there is so much shouting going across this chamber that I am not able to hear. There is no point of order on what you have raised.