HOURS OF MEETING AND ROUTINE OF BUSINESS—VARIATION

Leave refused: The Parliamentary Secretary for School Education and Workplace Relations (Senator Collins) sought leave to move a motion relating to the hours of meeting and routine of business for Thursday, 20 September 2012.

An objection was raised and leave was not granted.

Suspension of standing orders: Senator Collins, at the request of the Leader of the Government in the Senate (Senator Evans) and pursuant to contingent notice, moved—That so much of the standing orders be suspended as would prevent Senator Evans moving a motion to provide for the consideration of a matter, namely a motion to give precedence to a motion to vary the hours of meeting and routine of business for Thursday, 20 September 2012.

Debate ensued.

Question put.

The Senate divided—

Question agreed to.

Senator Collins, at the request of Senator Evans, moved—That a motion to vary the hours of meeting and routine of business for Thursday, 20 September 2012 may be moved immediately and have precedence over all other business today till determined.

Question put.

The Senate divided—

Question agreed to.

Senator Collins moved—That, on Thursday, 20 September 2012:

 (a) the hours of meeting shall be 9.30 am to adjournment;

 (b) consideration of general business private senators' bills under temporary order 57(1)(d)(ia) shall not be proceeded with;

 (c) any proposal pursuant to standing order 75 shall not be proceeded with;

 (d) subject to paragraph (g), consideration of general business under standing order 57(1)(d)(x) shall not be proceeded with;

 (e) the government business order of the day relating to the Marriage Amendment Bill (No. 2) 2012 shall have precedence over all other business, as follows:

  (i) from 9.30 am for 2 hour and 20 minutes,

  (ii) after consideration of non-controversial government business till not later than 2 pm, and

  (iii) from not later than 4 pm;

 (f) divisions may take place after 4.30 pm;

 (g) the routine of business after completion of the consideration of the Marriage Amendment Bill (No. 2) 2012 shall be:

  (i) tabling of documents,

  (ii) consideration of the general business notice of motion relating to Australia's agriculture, fisheries and forestry industries, for up to one and half hours, and

  (iii) consideration of government documents under standing order 57(1)(d)(xi) and the consideration of committee reports, government responses and Auditor-General's reports under standing order 62(1), for up to one hour; and

 (h) the question for the adjournment of the Senate shall not be proposed until a motion for the adjournment is moved by a minister.

Debate ensued.

Closure: Senator Collins moved—That the question be now put.

Question—That the question be now put—put.

The Senate divided—

Question agreed to.

Main question put.

The Senate divided—

Question agreed to.