7           Hours of meeting and routine of business—Variation

The Minister for Finance (Senator Cormann), by leave, moved—That—

(1)               Today:

(a)                  the routine of business from 11.45 am be:

(i)                    placing of business,

(ii)                  notices of motion,

(iii)                consideration of a report of the Selection of Bills Committee,

(iv)                formal motions, and

(v)                  consideration of the Higher Education Support Amendment (Job-Ready Graduates and Supporting Regional and Remote Students) Bill 2020 ;

(b)                  if by 12.45 pm the Higher Education Support Amendment (Job-Ready Graduates and Supporting Regional and Remote Students) Bill 2020 has not been finally considered, the questions on all remaining stages be put without debate;

(c)                  paragraph (b) operate as a limitation of debate under standing order 142;

(d)                 following the conclusion of consideration of the bill, the Senate return to its routine of business;

(e)                  divisions may take place after 4.30 pm until 7.30 pm; and

(f)                   the routine of business from 5.30 pm be:

(i)                    consideration of any message relating to the Higher Education Support Amendment (Job-Ready Graduates and Supporting Regional and Remote Students) Bill 2020,

(ii)                  immediately after the consideration of that message, the sitting of the Senate be suspended till 8 pm,

(iii)                from 8pm, Budget statements and documents - party leaders and independent senators to make a response to the statement and documents of no more than 30 minutes each, and

(iv)                immediately after the conclusion of those responses:

(A)                 if the Treasury Laws Amendment (A Tax Plan for the COVID-19 Economic Recovery) Bill 2020 has not been passed—the sitting of the Senate be suspended till 9 am on Friday, 9 October 2020, or

(B)                 otherwise, the question for the adjournment be proposed.

(2)              The routine of business from 9 am on Friday, 9 October 2020 be:

(a)                  consideration of the Treasury Laws Amendment (A Tax Plan for the COVID-19 Economic Recovery) Bill 2020 only;

(b)                  if by midday the bill has not been finally considered, the questions on all remaining stages shall be put without debate;

(c)                  paragraph (b) operate as a limitation of debate under standing order 142; and

(d)                 the Senate adjourn without debate after it has finally considered the bill, or a motion for the adjournment is moved by a minister, whichever is the earlier.

Debate ensued.

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

Question—That the question be now put—put.

The Senate divided—

AYES, 50

Senators—

NOES, 8

Senators—

* Tellers

Question agreed to.

Main question divided at the request of the Leader of the Opposition in the Senate (Senator Wong).

Question—That the motion be agreed to, except in respect of paragraphs (1)(a)(v), (b) and (c)—put.

The Senate divided—

AYES, 50

Senators—

NOES, 8

Senators—

* Tellers

Question agreed to.

Question—That the remainder of motion be agreed to—put.

The Senate divided—

AYES, 29

Senators—

NOES, 27

Senators—

* Tellers

Question agreed to.