Roger Price (Chifley, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

Well, we have had a vintage performance from the Manager of Opposition Business. I was certainly moved by his outrage. In fact, I was quivering when he was addressing the issue of a quorum. But I do understand from his contribution that he has no idea of exactly what is being done.

Let me make the first point: all honourable members who are in the chamber will hear the confection and outrage about quorums. Well, on a sitting Friday, on private members’ business Friday, you have to start with a quorum, and we will be starting with a quorum. There is nothing in these standing orders that changes the requirement for a starting quorum on a Monday, on a Tuesday, on a Wednesday, on a Thursday or on a Friday. So all that outrage about ‘no quorum to start the sitting on Friday’ is absolutely wrong—dead wrong!

What else is happening to quorums? Honourable members who have been in this parliament before will know that we have an arrangement on Mondays and Tuesdays for the dinner break. Anyone can call a division then; anyone can call a quorum. But, if they do, it is deferred.

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