Universities Accord (Opening the Doors of Opportunity) Bill 2026

Senator SHOEBRIDGE (New South Wales—Leader of the Australian Greens) (12:58): I move an amendment, as circulated, to the motion: That the motion be amended as follows: At the end of the motion, add: 'but the Senate reaffirms its constitutional right to amend bills where an amendment changes the destination of money appropriated, but does not increase the amount of proposed expenditure under a standing appropriation'.

I want to thank other parties in the chamber for the productive discussion on this. It is important that the Senate retains its very firm position that, when an appropriation bill comes before the chamber, we are entitled to extend the class of peoples who can receive the appropriation. We're not intending to increase the appropriations but to extend the class of peoples or even vary the class of peoples for whom an appropriation can be granted.

I note and I'm grateful for the advice the clerks have given—indeed, Deputy President, from some of your previous rulings in relation to this. I won't repeat them, but I refer to them for the reasons why we put this amendment through. I would like to say phooey to the other place, but I understand they have a different view.