Labor Secures Greens Support to ‘Guillotine’ Through Senate Bills
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has struck a significant deal with the Greens to facilitate the swift passage of multiple bills on the last day of the Senate session.
The Agreement Between Labor and the Greens
During a meeting between Greens leader Adam Bandt and Albanese, it was agreed that no coal, oil, and gas projects would be supported. Additionally, the Greens secured $500 million for social housing upgrades in exchange for their backing on 27 bills.
Bandt emphasized the importance of saving on power bills and ensuring that public funds do not contribute to exacerbating the climate crisis.
In a final push, the Senate passed a “guillotine” motion to expedite the approval of key legislation.
Understanding the Guillotine Motion
A guillotine motion, which allows for minimal or no debate on bills, was supported by the Greens and crossbenchers. This motion will suspend debates on 30 bills and amendments, with exceptions made for specific cases.
The House of Representatives is scheduled to reconvene early the next day to finalize the bills.
Bills Set to Pass in the Senate
The $22 billion Future Made in Australia package, aimed at boosting local manufacturing and achieving net-zero emissions, is a significant win for the Albanese government.
Other bills set to pass include amendments to Build to Rent legislation, migration policies, social media restrictions for minors, superannuation changes, aged care reforms, surveillance legislation, and treasury law amendments.
Jacqui Lambie’s Opposition to the Motion
Independent senator Jacqui Lambie raised concerns about the rushed nature of the guillotine motion, labeling it as “the mother of all guillotines.” She criticized the government for pushing through significant legislation without adequate debate.
Lambie highlighted the complexity and magnitude of the bills being rushed through, expressing worries about their potential impact.
— With additional reporting by Rania Yallop.