MATTERS OF URGENCY
Senator WHITEAKER (Western Australia) (16:20): What we have just seen in this vote on the suspension motion is One Nation, the National Party, the Liberal Party and the Greens vote against our proposal to suspend to consider an amendment to support tax cuts, wage rises, cheaper medicines and a dignified retirement— The PRESIDENT: Senator O'Sullivan? Senator O'Sullivan: On a point of order, I ask that you bring the senator back to the urgency motion.
The PRESIDENT: I am listening carefully, and I will certainly bring the senator back if she does not shift off the suspension motion. Senator WHITEAKER: I can't think of a more important reason for us to suspend standing orders than to talk about the things that Australians need, and that is a real pay rise, not a fake pay rise that One Nation is offering them through their super.
There is nothing that is more urgent. What I find ironic is that these kinds of suspension motions are the kinds of tactics that we see from those opposite and the Greens day in and day out in this place, but they don't like it when it's used in a way that doesn't suit their political motive—that doesn't suit their narrative. This suspension talks to the things that our government is doing to deliver real change for Australians— The PRESIDENT: Senator Whiteaker, I am going to draw you to the point.
The heart of this issue is not enabling the minister to move an amendment. That is what your remarks need to focus on. Senator WHITEAKER: Thank you, President, and you're right.
This is an attempt to stop a minister talking about the matters that we are focused on as a government—talking about support for tax cuts, for wage rises, for cheaper medicines and for a dignified retirement for all Australians— The PRESIDENT: Senator Whiteaker, I'm going to remind you again. It's a technical debate about the failure to move an amendment. That is where you need to direct your remarks—and not go on to other substantive measures or matters.
Senator WHITEAKER: I believe that we must amend this urgency motion put forward by Senator Hanson and we must suspend in order to do that, because, instead of us wasting time in this place talking about Senator Hanson's pretend plan to give Australians a pay rise, we should be suspending to talk about— The PRESIDENT: Senator Hanson, on a point of order? Senator Hanson: Relevance.
The PRESIDENT: The senator's remarks are going directly to the matter before the Senate. Senator Hanson, I will listen carefully and— Senator Hanson: No, that's what I keep saying: you're not fair! The PRESIDENT: Senator Hanson, you are not in a debate with me.
Senator WHITEAKER: Senator Hanson wants to come in here and sell the Australian people something that is not true, something that Senator Hanson cannot deliver— The PRESIDENT: Senator Whiteaker, I remind you again that you need to focus on the issue before the Senate. Senator WHITEAKER: That is why this suspension is so important—because I think the Australian people deserve better than these kinds of tactics from Senator Hanson and— Honourable senators interjecting— The PRESIDENT: Order!
I would ask that the chamber come to order! Senator Hanson, the senator is being relevant at the moment, and I will continue to listen carefully. Senator WHITEAKER: It is really important that we suspend because One Nation have voted in this place.
Their voting record shows that they vote against penalty rates, that they vote against our plan for energy relief, that they voted against our secure jobs, better pay bill— Senator McKenzie interjecting— The PRESIDENT: Senator McKenzie, you are not even in your seat, and you are interjecting, which is discourteous. Senator Hanson, you were on your feet. The level of interjections across this chamber is—I won't say it.
If you can't listen in silence, leave the chamber. I don't need your interjections, particularly at one another. Senator Whiteaker, I'm going to remind you again that you need to be talking about the minister's suspension motion.
Senator WHITEAKER: There is no way— Senator McKenzie interjecting— The PRESIDENT: Senator Mckenzie, I have just called you out. You are disorderly. You are rude.
You are disrespectful. Honourable senators interjecting— The PRESIDENT: Order! I'm going to remind the chamber again.
If you think there are some kind of points by interjecting across the chamber, you're wrong. This is a serious debate. I ask that you listen in silence.
If you can't do that, leave the chamber. Senator WHITEAKER: There is nothing Senator Hanson hates more than young women coming in this place and having their voice heard, and I am sick of it! I am sick of it!
Senator Cash interjecting— The PRESIDENT: Senator Cash, if you stand, I will ask for your point of order. But you don't stand and just launch into a debate, particularly as I've just spent quite a few minutes settling the chamber down. Senator Cash: It's on relevance.
We consistently are brought up ourselves on that point of order. I'd like you to also bring Senator Whiteaker to the point of order. The PRESIDENT: I have consistently been doing that.
I have drawn her back to the issue at point on quite a number of occasions. Senator Ruston: And she keeps ignoring you. The PRESIDENT: I don't need your commentary either.
Senator Kovacic: On a point of order, I believe that Senator Whiteaker should withdraw her comments in relation to Senator Hanson. The PRESIDENT: I will seek the advice of the Clerk. It was not a slur as I understood it to Senator Hanson, but I have said, Senator Kovacic, that I will seek the advice of the Clerk.
I do not need the advice of senators. I will advise the chamber that it is a debating point. Senator Whiteaker, I would ask you to stick to the suspension matters, please.
Senator WHITEAKER: You have brought me back to the suspension a number of times, so thank you for your assistance. What I will say in closing is that we should be able to come into this place and suspend to talk about the issues that Australians care about, and I believe that it is in the interests of the Australian people and in the interests of this chamber to suspend to agree to the amendment that was moved by the minister.