DOCUMENTS

Senator DAVID POCOCK (Australian Capital Territory—Independent ACT Whip) (15:34): I seek leave to table a document. Leave not granted. Senator DAVID POCOCK: I'll do it again then.

Pursuant to contingent notice of motion, I move: That so much of the standing orders be suspended as would prevent me from tabling a document. The PRESIDENT: Do you wish to speak to it, or do you want me to put the motion? Senator DAVID POCOCK: I might just finish.

I've got a couple of minutes, thanks to the Senate. The PRESIDENT: Senator Pocock, I do want to remind you this is a suspension motion, so you can't go to the substantive matters. You need to focus on why it is important that you've moved that motion and what's urgent about it.

Senator DAVID POCOCK: For people listening along, the government has told us many times that they respect copyright. That they want to look after creatives whose income and work is what they've written, what they've recorded— The PRESIDENT: I'm going to remind you again: it is about your reasons for suspending. Senator DAVID POCOCK: And this is exactly why I'm suspending— The PRESIDENT: You're not in a debate with me, Senator.

But you've moved to suspend business so that you can deal with this. You need to tell my why it's important. I don't mind the odd sentence about the substantive matter, but this is a suspension motion.

It is not about the substantive matter. Senator DAVID POCOCK: I'm suspending to try and table a document that shows that the government, in consultation— The PRESIDENT: Just a moment, Senator Pocock. I've got Senator Sheldon on his feet.

Senator Sheldon: Just as a point of order, it's normal for correspondence and documents that are wanted to be handed up to be given to both parties. We haven't seen the document that we're referring to. The PRESIDENT: That is true, but that's a debating point.

You will recall the Deputy President invited Senator Pocock to share the information that he wants to table. Senator DAVID POCOCK: I'm trying to table this information from a government consultation which basically goes against everything that they've told us publicly. It flips the protection on copyright— The PRESIDENT: Once again, Senator Pocock, I'm going to remind you that it is about the suspension.

Senator DAVID POCOCK: I'm suspending to table this. Is that not— The PRESIDENT: Yes, but you need to explain to the Senate why it's important for your suspension to get up, not to debate the substantive matter. Senator DAVID POCOCK: Okay.

I'm trying to explain that it's important that I suspend so I can table this information so the Senate can actually see what the government's doing, because the government publicly is telling us one thing, but, in consultation, is presenting a solution which is not that thing. I think we have a Senate that would like to back our creatives and would like to back the people who have told— The PRESIDENT: Senator Pocock, please resume your seat.

Senator Chisholm, why are you on your feet? Senator Chisholm: He's not following the direction from the chair. He could've actually consulted with us about this— The PRESIDENT: We're going to the substantive matter.

I will remind you, Senator Pocock, once again to focus on the suspension. Senator Lambie interjecting— The PRESIDENT: Senator Lambie, come to order. Senator Lambie: Let him table the document!

The PRESIDENT: Order! Order across the chamber. Honourable senators interjecting— The PRESIDENT: Senator Chisholm!

Order! Senator Lambie, take note. I am standing because you are out of order.

Senator Lambie interjecting— The PRESIDENT: No, Senator Lambie. Senator Lambie interjecting— The PRESIDENT: Senator Lambie, resume your seat. I will name you.

Senator Duniam. Senator Duniam: On a point of order, I'm just seeking some clarification. I'm just wondering whether it is the case that, if the document was circulated in the ordinary way and the government were able to look at it, we might then be able to seek to— The PRESIDENT: Thank you for that help, Senator Duniam.

I will remind you that the Deputy President invited Senator Pocock to share the document with the whips, so he's already had that invitation. Senator DAVID POCOCK: President, given how upset some colleagues are with using the standing orders, we might just put the question and get this done. The PRESIDENT: Thank you, Senator Pocock.

Senator Chisholm, you're speaking to the motion. Senator Chisholm: Yes. The PRESIDENT: Senator Pocock, I'm informed you can't move that the question be put on your own motion.

I call Senator Chisholm.