Govt attempts to pass many laws causes chaos

The final day of parliament for the year was quite chaotic in the Senate. The government was trying to push through a large number of bills before the Christmas break, causing quite a commotion. Labor also had a significant amount of legislation they wanted to see passed, such as their proposed social media ban for children under 16, three strict migration bills, and the Build to Rent housing reform. Some policies, such as those regarding political donations and superannuation tax rates, were temporarily put on hold.

To speed up the process, the government proposed a "guillotine" motion, which would limit the time for debates and discussions on the bills in order to pass them quickly. However, this motion was narrowly defeated with a vote of 34 to 33. Independent senator Jacqui Lambie spoke out against the move, accusing the government of being hypocritical. She expressed her disappointment and concern for the safety of her office staff, who were expected to go through 41 bills in just 12 hours. She emphasized the danger of rushing through bills without proper scrutiny.

The opposition also voted against the motion, with Senator Simon Birmingham calling it an unprecedented attempt to force through numerous pieces of legislation in one day. He labeled it as shameful and urged the government to withdraw the motion. However, the government defended their actions, stating that many of the bills had been in discussion for weeks or even months. Energy and Climate Change Minister Chris Bowen, who sits in the lower house, explained that the government had a heavy legislative agenda due to their active role in governing. He also pointed out that it is common for governments to try and pass legislation on the final day of parliament.

The Senate was also disrupted by independent senator Lidia Thorpe, who had been suspended from the chamber the previous day for tearing up a motion from Senator Pauline Hanson. Thorpe entered the Senate through the gallery, where journalists and photographers were present, and shouted pro-Palestine slogans. She stood by her actions, stating that it was necessary to take a stand against racism. She specifically called out Senator Hanson, who she accused of being a convicted racist and regularly using racial taunts.

Despite the chaotic scenes, the Senate continued with its proceedings and eventually adjourned for the year. The final sitting day was certainly eventful, with heated debates and passionate speeches from both sides of the political spectrum. The government's attempt to rush through a large number of bills was met with opposition, but they stood by their decision, stating that it is their duty to pass legislation as an active government. The actions of independent senator Lidia Thorpe also brought attention to the issue of racism in parliament and the responsibility of all members to address it. As the year comes to a close, the discussion and debates will continue as the government and opposition navigate through their differing policies and agendas.

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