Margaret May (McPherson, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

Well, prior to these changes, in cases of disorderly conduct occurring in the Main Committee the chair could only suspend or adjourn the committee and report the disorder to the House. Generally, such reports have resulted in the naming and suspension of the member concerned.

There is also the issue of members’ three-minute statements in the Main Committee. Often, if there was a division in the main chamber that happened during those three-minute statements, that time was lost to members. That time has been given to members and will not now be lost if a division happens during that 30-minute period. There are speaking times for dissent motions and the anticipation rule. They are all recommendations of the Procedure Committee and are all sessional orders which we will be reviewing as a committee.

We would also like to encourage members to give some feedback on those sessional orders. It is important that we as a procedure committee take on board any issues that members may have and any expansion or strengthening of standing or sessional orders that they would like to see in this House. Members must remember that this is their House. This is their place, where they put on record their thoughts and speak to their bills, their reports and their delegation reports. So it is up to members to give us some input so that we know where they are coming from, can help them and very much strengthen and modernise the processes of the House.

Before completing my remarks today, I place on record my particular thanks to the committee secretariat for all of their work. They certainly do a tremendous job. Judy Middlebrook, the secretary of the committee, accompanied those members who went on the overseas delegation recently. There will be a report tabled, hopefully within the next few months, on our trip overseas. The members for Charlton and for Chifley are in the chamber today, both of whom came on the trip. I think all would agree that we have come back with a lot of enthusiasm for some changes that we hope to see happen in the House.

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