Honourable senators, with leave of the Senate and notwithstanding rule 5-5(k), I move:

That, notwithstanding rule 12-3(1) and the order of June 4, 2025, any committee that, under that provision of the Rules or that order, would have 12 members this session, instead have 13 members for the remainder of the current session;

That, notwithstanding rule 12-3(2)(g), the membership of the Standing Committee on Audit and Oversight be 4 senators for the remainder of the session, without affecting any provision relating to the external members, provided that, for the purposes of rule 12-6(2), the reference to 3 senators be read as reference to 4 senators, and that, for the purposes of rule 12-13(4), the reference to “all three Senators who are members of the committee” be read as if it said “all four Senators who are members of the committee” for the remainder of the session;

That the Committee of Selection be authorized to make recommendations to the Senate on issues relating to the duration of membership on committees;

That, notwithstanding any provision of the Rules or usual practice, the following Senate committees be authorized to elect three deputy chairs: the Standing Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration; the Standing Committee on Rules, Procedures and the Rights of Parliament; and the Standing Committee on Audit and Oversight; and

That, if a committee authorized to elect more than one deputy chair does so:

1.the reference to the deputy chair in rule 12-18(2)(c)(ii) be understood as referring to all deputy chairs of the committee acting together;

2.the reference to the deputy chair in rule 12-13(4) be understood as a reference to the number of deputy chairs that the Standing Committee on Audit and Oversight elects; and

3.any reference to the deputy chair of a committee in any policy or guideline be understood as referring to all deputy chairs acting together, until the Standing Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration decides otherwise.

The Hon. the Speaker: Is leave granted, honourable senators?

Hon. Senators: Agreed.