MATTERS OF URGENCY

The PRESIDENT (16:46): Senator McKim has submitted a proposal, under standing order 75, shown at item 13 of today's Order of Business: That, in the opinion of the Senate, the following is a matter of urgency: The need for the government to finally acknowledge that Australians are paying the price of privatisation, that privatisation has delivered nothing but pain for Australians through privatised profits, higher costs, and worse services, and that essential public services must return to public ownership.

Is consideration of the proposal supported? More than the number of senators required by the standing orders having risen in their places— The PRESIDENT: With the concurrence of the Senate, the clerks will set the clock in line with the informal arrangements made by the whips.