Brian Hayes (Fine Gael)

The Order of Business as proposed by the Leader today is completely unacceptable. For any degree of parliamentary scrutiny, to suggest that we can take all Stages of two vitally important Bill through the House by 10 o'clock this evening is stretching the limitations of credibility just too far. The Leader has proposed to take Second Stage contributions from leading spokespersons in all groups for ten minutes on a vitally important Bill concerning domestic violence and ten minutes on the National Development Finance Agency Bill which, I understand, has a total of 23 sections. We are then expected to proceed immediately to Committee and Report Stages. My colleague, Senator Feighan, has already proposed 20 substantive amendments and it seems unlikely they will be reached. That is not the way to do business. The Leader is ramming through some very important legislation just because we are one week from Christmas.

If we have learnt anything from the Supreme Court decision in respect of the domestic violence legislation passed in 1996, it is that Bills should be considered line by line and word by word. I ask the Leader at this late stage to reconsider the order as proposed. On this side of the House, we want to do business in a serious way. The order, as proposed, does not take serious account of the contributions and amendments of my party colleagues and other Senators. I again ask the Leader to re-think the Order of Business.