Senator COULTER —I ask that general business notice of motion No. 17, standing in my name, be taken as formal business.

The PRESIDENT —Is there any objection to this motion being taken as formal?

Senator Hill —I raise a procedural matter, Mr President. I am happy that the motion be taken as formal if I might be allowed to move an amendment, in that we would like to see the committee reconstituted.

The PRESIDENT —You will need leave.

Senator Hill —You can refuse me leave. As a matter of explanation, I might say that I would seek to move the amendment in relation to each select committee that we now constitute or reconstitute. The amendment that I would seek leave to move would be in these terms:

  That the chair and deputy chair of the committee be allocated among members nominated to the committee by the Leader of the Government in the Senate, the Leader of the Opposition in the Senate, and the minority groups and Independent senators by agreement between those leaders and minority groups and Independent senators, and, in the absence of agreement duly notified to the President, the allocation of the chairs and deputy chairs shall be determined by the Senate.

In other words, the amendment seeks to ensure that from now on, in the event that agreement cannot be reached, the chairmen of select committees shall be determined by the Senate rather than according to the practice that has been adopted in the past.

  Leave not granted.

The PRESIDENT —Is there any objection, therefore, to the motion being taken as formal?

Senator Hill —Yes, I object.