MATTERS OF URGENCY
Senator HANSON (Queensland—Leader of One Nation) (16:16): This was a matter of urgency that was put up by One Nation, by me, and I had written out the matters of urgency. We rarely ever have the chance to put up something in this chamber to speak to. What you have done over there is move an amendment to mine, changing the words of my notice of motion completely.
The urgency of this was to do with people accessing their superannuation. As I have said, the workers, the people that are doing it extremely hard out there, want to be able to access their super. That's why it needs to be addressed.
Government senators interjecting— The PRESIDENT: Order! Senator Bragg interjecting— The PRESIDENT: Senator Bragg, which part of order doesn't apply to you? How disrespectful!
Think before you then apologise. Senator Hanson, you need to address your remarks to the suspension. Senator HANSON: The suspension was—what they've done is make an amendment to my notice of motion.
My notice of motion was about the urgency of speaking about superannuation so that the average person out there who is a renter or a mortgage holder can actually then access their superannuation. Now the fact is that the Labor Party did not want this to be addressed. Government senators interjecting— The PRESIDENT: Order on my right!
If you can't sit in the chamber and listen in silence, leave. Senator Hanson, you need to address the suspension not the substantive matter of your urgency motion or anything else— Senator HANSON: This suspension— The PRESIDENT: No, I haven't finished yet. You need to talk about the suspension, not anything else.
Senator HANSON: The suspension was brought about because they've changed the notice of motion that I put forward. That's what this is about. It was about the suspension.
Why did they do it? They didn't like the wording of my notice of motion to address the superannuation policy that we put out so people who are under hardship can get their three per cent. Now, we don't get a lot of time in here.
The government can actually control this chamber, which they have done many a time. They actually call the guillotine. The crossbench does not have much time to introduce what they feel is a matter of importance to the people of this nation.
I was given that opportunity today because it was my time to speak on this. I raised an important motion here that needs to be raised— The PRESIDENT: Senator Hanson, once again— Senator HANSON: They have shut me down, as you are trying to shut me down too— The PRESIDENT: Senator Hanson, don't speak over me. If you read the standing orders, they are very clear.
When a suspension motion is moved, that is what you speak about. I am absolutely consistent about this, and I have always been consistent about this. It is not about shutting you down or anything like that.
It is reminding you of the debate before the chamber. If you wish to continue, you still have time. Senator HANSON: No, we'll put it to a vote.