Tony Abbott (Warringah, Liberal Party, Leader of the House) Share this | Hansard source

I ask leave of the House to move government business notices Nos. 1 and 2 together.

Leave not granted.

I move:

That so much of the standing and sessional orders be suspended as would prevent the Leader of the House moving government business notices 1 and 2 together.

Question agreed to.

I move:

(1)

That, unless otherwise ordered, standing orders Nos 2, 43, 98, 99 and 193 be as follows:

2 Definitions

Assistant Minister see Minister.

Minister includes Parliamentary Secretary*, except in standing order 98 (questions seeking information), and standing order 193 (Members’ three minute statements in the Main Committee).

*Including Assistant Ministers who are Parliamentary Secretaries

43 Members’ statements on Mondays

At 1.45 pm on Mondays the Speaker shall interrupt business and call on statements by Members. The Speaker may call a Member, but not a Minister (or Parliamentary Secretary*), to make a statement for no longer than 90 seconds. The period allowed for these statements shall extend until 2 pm.

*Including Assistant Ministers who are Parliamentary Secretaries

98 Questions to Ministers

(a)

A Member may ask a question in writing of a Minister (but not a Parliamentary Secretary*), to be placed on the Notice Paper for written reply.

(b)

During Question Time, a Member may orally ask a question of a Minister (but not a Parliamentary Secretary*), without notice and for immediate response.

*Including Assistant Ministers who are Parliamentary Secretaries

99 Questions to other Members

During Question Time, a Member may ask a question orally of another Member who is not a Minister (or Parliamentary Secretary*). Questions must relate to a bill, motion, or other business of the House or of a committee, for which the Member asked is responsible.

*Including Assistant Ministers who are Parliamentary Secretaries

193 Members’ three minute statements

If the Main Committee meets before 10 am the first item of business shall be statements by Members. The Deputy Speaker may call a Member, including a Parliamentary Secretary* but not another Minister, to make a statement for no longer than three minutes. The period for Members’ statements may continue for 30 minutes, irrespective of suspensions for divisions in the House.

*Including Assistant Ministers who are Parliamentary Secretaries.

(2)

That, unless otherwise ordered, standing order No. 1 be as follows and be adopted for the remainder of this session:

	time (max)
Matter of public importance
Whole discussion	1 hour
Proposer	15 mins
Member next speaking	15 mins
Next 2 Members speaking	10 mins each
Any other Member	5 mins

If the Manager of Opposition Business had read the blue he would have seen that, after the presentation of documents, this matter was to be dealt with. There is one controversial matter and one, I think, relatively non-controversial matter being dealt with. The more controversial matter is the proposal of the government to allocate one hour for the matter of public importance on those days when there is such a debate.

I have listened to various criticisms that have been made of this proposal by the Manager of Opposition Business and by some of my Independent colleagues. The government is adding to the quantum of matter of public importance debate that has been allowed by the longstanding conventions of this House. Traditionally, the matter of public importance debate went for 50 minutes. The government is proposing to extend that to a full hour. Traditionally, the matter of public importance debate had two speakers: two on each side. The government is proposing to make that six speakers: three on each side. We are proposing to add to the traditional practice of this House in respect of matters of public importance debates.

I know that over the last 12 months or so it has become common for the traditional 50-minute debate to go on for well over an hour as, on a number of occasions, extra members have sought the call, particularly Independent members of this place. For 17 of the 52 most recent MPIs, debate has gone on for more than an hour. As I said, this is quite contrary to the longstanding conventions of this House and that is why the government is seeking to regularise the situation in the way that I have outlined.

Because members opposite will suggest that this is the death of democracy as we know it, let me put on the record that this government has been the best friend of debate in this parliament of any government of recent years. Not only does every minister of this government front question time every day, unlike the roster that operated under the former government, not only do we have 20 questions on most days as opposed to the average of 12 questions in the time of the Keating government, not only do we have a much better question time, but further initiatives of this government are member statements, adjournment debates and interventions in the Main Committee—a practice which will shortly be extended to this chamber itself. What we are proposing extends the traditional practice of this House. It mirrors the standard practice of the Senate. It is a worthy change and I commend it to all members.

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