Order of Business - 23rd November 2005

Order of Business – 23rd November 2005

Mr. Norris: I am sure the House will agree - I speak not just as a member of the National Union of Journalists but as a human being - that it is remarkable a memorandum has now emerged clearly demonstrating that it took Tony Blair to persuade George Bush not to bomb the al-Jazeera studio in Qatar. The British are so worried about the memorandum that they have invoked section 5 of the Official Secrets Act to stop the matter being discussed.
In light of this, I ask the Acting Leader to convene a meeting of the Government side, including the PDs, to discuss the appalling amendment put down against my Private Members' motion on Iraq for this evening. This question is directly relevant to the Order of Business. I ask this because, as I understand it, this matter has not been discussed among the Government Members, who have not yet had access to the amendment. It is notable that the only name on the Order Paper is that of the Leader, Senator O'Rourke.
I ask my colleagues on the other side of the House not to sign this amendment because it refers, among other things, to the fact that the Government has permitted overflights for almost 50 years. That included the period of the Vietnam War, when the US authorities transported Agent Orange and phosphorous, which they are doing again in regard to Iraq. This is precisely why this disgraceful amendment should be removed.
This matter went to Cabinet before coming back to the House but not one Member has yet had the opportunity to discuss it. Why are there no names of Government Members on the motion apart from that of Senator O'Rourke?
An Cathaoirleach: Senator Norris, please. The matter will be debated this evening.
Mr. Norris: Before the debate, I ask that democracy be instituted in this House. Instead of having this motion handed down from on high by people who are not elected to this House, with the names of Government Members to be added to it, this matter should be discussed by those Members. I ask them not to permit their names to be added to this motion, which would validate the use of Agent Orange and phosphorous bombs. It is a most craven and disgusting amendment.
Mr. B. Hayes: Hear, hear.
Mr. Norris: It is a disgrace to this House and should be withdrawn. Government Members should not allow their names to be attached with infamy to that amendment.