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Thursday, 24 November 2011
Page: 9605

The PRESIDENT: In respect of the Auditor-General Amendment Bill 2011, the question is that amendments (1) to (10) on sheet 7163 moved by Senator Ryan be agreed to.

Question put.

A division having been called and the bells being rung—

Senator Bob Brown: As Senator Williams took a point of order, Senator Joyce just crossed the chamber without bowing and scraping. I ask you to call him to order.

The PRESIDENT: Senator Bob Brown, I was engaged in other matters. I did not witness it. I have reminded senators of the standing orders.

Senator Joyce: Mr President, it was rightly pointed out by Senator Bob Brown and I accept the admonishment. I now will cross the chamber and properly, as I should, acknowledge the chair. Now that he has pointed this out, I expect him to respect the same ruling himself.

The PRESIDENT: Senator Joyce, there is no point of order. That is not a matter for debate.

The Senate divided. [21:57]

(The President—Senator Hogg)

Question negatived.

Senator LUDWIG: I table an addendum to the explanatory memorandum relating to the Personal Property Securities Amendment (Registration Commencement) Bill 2011.

Senator Ian Macdonald: Mr President, I rise on a point of order. How can I possibly vote on that bill when I have not even seen the addendum? This is a ridiculous procedure where the Greens and the Labor Party have been guillotining the bill through and they are changing it as we go. We do not even have a chance to read what he has just tabled.

The PRESIDENT: The question is that the remaining stages of the Auditor-General Amendment Bill 2011, the Personal Property Securities Amendment (Registration Commencement) Bill 2011, the Competition and Consumer Amendment Bill (No. 1) 2011—Senator Fifield on a point of order.

Senator Fifield: Mr President, I rise on a point of order. The opposition may well be voting differently on different bills. I ask that they might be put separately.

The PRESIDENT: Which bills? If you can indicate to me which bills then I will put those bills separately for you.

Senator Fifield: The Auditor-General Amendment Bill 2011. Could we commence with that one?

The PRESIDENT: Is that all?

Senator Fifield: At this stage.

The PRESIDENT: The motion that has been put on the record requires me to put these bills together unless you can identify for me which bills to separate and the you vote a different way.

Senator Fifield: Mr President, I shall do so. I recognise that we are in that twilight zone that is the government's guillotine. It is indeed a peculiar circumstance where senators have to indicate how they are going to vote before they have actually voted.

The PRESIDENT: The determination of this chamber, not my determination, was that there was a certain procedure to be followed upon certain stages being reached during the evening. That resolution determines that I should now put the remaining stages of the bills that I was just reading out. If there is some reason that would cause people to vote differently then I need a reason to be able to separate those out. That is reasonable.

Senator Fifield: I can indicate that the opposition will be voting differently on the Auditor-General Amendment Bill 2011 to how we will be voting on the other bills, but I do note Senator Macdonald's point that we do not know what the additional information tabled by Senator Ludwig is. Who knows? It may have some dramatic and profound impact on our current intention in relation to the Personal Property Securities Amendment (Registration Commencement) Bill 2011.

The PRESIDENT: In which case, Senator Fifield, I will put the Auditor-General Amendment Bill separate to the others and I will deal with that bill first. The question is that the remaining stages of the Auditor-General Amendment Bill be agreed to and the bill be now passed.

The Senate divided. [22:06]

(The President—Senator Hogg)

Question agreed to.

The PRESIDENT: The question now is that the remaining stages of the Personal Property Securities Amendment (Registration Commencement) Bill 2011—

Senator Ian Macdonald: Mr President, I raise another point of order on this continuing farce where we are voting on bills we have not spoken one word on. My Order of Business shows the Broadcasting Services Amendment (Review of Future Uses of Broadcasting Services Bands Spectrum) Bill 2011 and then it says, in brackets, 'subject to introduction'. I do not recall whether Senator Conroy has introduced this. Are we going to be voting on that? Has it been introduced?

The PRESIDENT: I understand, Senator Macdonald, that the bill has been introduced.

Senator Ian Macdonald: Will we vote on that tonight?

The PRESIDENT: Senator Macdonald, you have got that quite correct. I now put the motion—

Senator Ian Macdonald: Can I just get that clear?

The PRESIDENT: Senator Macdonald, I have answered your question.

Senator Ian Macdonald: Are we voting on a bill that was not introduced this morning and not a word has been spoken on—

The PRESIDENT: Senator Macdonald, you asked the question and I gave you the answer. The question is that the remaining stages of the Personal Property Securities Amendment (Registration Commencement) Bill 2011, Competition and Consumer Amendment Bill (No. 1) 2011 and Broadcasting Services Amendment (Review of Future Uses of Broadcasting Services Bands Spectrum) Bill 2011 be agreed to and the bills be passed.

Question agreed to.

Bills read a third time.