 |
Chapter 10 - Debate
Dividing the
question
The President may
divide a complicated question (SO 84(3)). A question
is divided only if the
parts of the question are capable of a distinct decision by the Senate. This
may be done where preliminary words in a motion have to be understood as
preceding each part of the motion (16/3/1988, J.557) (see Supplement). In
practice, the chair divides a question which is capable of being divided at the
request of any senator, so that no senator is compelled to vote for or against
two or more proposals in relation to which they may wish to vote differently
(statement by Acting Deputy President Vanstone, SD, 12/11/1991, pp 2940-2).
This procedure is particularly used where, by a previous decision, distinct
questions, such as questions for the passage of different bills, have been
combined. If a senator moves an amendment to one question which has been
combined with another question, the amendment and the distinct questions are
put separately (3/12/1985, J.684-5, 687-8; 4/12/1985, J.694-5, 696-8; 16, 17, 21/10/1986, J.1320, 1323,
1324-5, 1340-3). The chair may decline to divide a question if the request is
not made for the purpose of protecting the right of a senator to vote
differently on the component questions (statement by President Reid, SD,
23/6/1999, p. 6133; request
to divide a question declined on the stated principle: SD, 25/9/2001,
p. 27835; SD, 2/12/2005, pp 205-6). Unless this principle is adhered to, a
limitation of time could be subverted by divisions on every question and
amendment before the chair, in some cases resulting in hundreds of divisions.
Previous page | Contents | Next page
Website feedback: web.senate@aph.gov.au
Last reviewed 11 February 2011 by the Senate Web Administrator
© Commonwealth of Australia
Parliament of Australia Web Site Privacy Statement
Images courtesy of AUSPIC
|
 |
